Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, announced his support for legislation that will cap monthly copays for insulin at $100.
The legislation stipulates that insurance coverage out-of-pocket copay should be set at $100 for a 30-day supply regardless of the type and amount of insulin needed and sets cost limitations on certain diabetes items.
GoodRx reports there are 23 insulins across manufacturers and insulin types — short-, intermediate-, rapid- and long-acting.
Recent analyses highlight the price of insulin has tripled between 2002 and 2013. The average price of insulin has increased by 55 percent since the first quarter of 2014, according to GoodRx.
Price increases have been a tremendous financial burden on many of the 1.3 million Illinoisans who require insulin to manage their diabetes, DeLuca said.
The bill also gives the Illinois Attorney General the power to investigate pricing of prescription insulin drugs to ensure adequate consumer protections.
The legislation was approved by both the Illinois House and Senate during the recent veto session and awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.
“This bill will help people, especially young adults who often do not have access to premium health insurance plans,” DeLuca said. “Without that medical coverage, the cost of insulin becomes more than these young people can afford, so they are forced to ration their insulin, which doctors and medical experts agree is extremely dangerous and can lead to death.”