US first as state of Colorado introduces price cap on insulin

[DCUK NewsBot]

Colorado has become the first US state to introduce a cap on monthly insulin payments in a significant victory for campaigners. While insulin is available on prescription in the UK via the NHS, people in the US have to pay the drug, either out of pocket or through insurance plans, and it is not cheap. Earlier this year the US government was urged to cap soaring insulin costs following a survey indicating almost half of people with diabetes have gone without insulin temporarily due to cost. In a fightback against drug manufacturers, Colorado's Governor Jared Polis this week passed a law capping insulin to payments at $100 for people with private insurance. Average monthly prices are between $600 and $900. The politician described the move as the beginning of the end of "insulin price gouging" in the state - gouging is where sellers spike prices to a level much higher that what would be considered to be fair. It is hoped this will then pave the way for other states to follow suit. The sponsor of the bill responsible for the price capping was state politician Dylan Roberts, whose brother Murphy, who had type 1 diabetes, died three years ago. Governor Polis said the bill was to "honour Murphy's memory, and of course for the 400,000 Coloradans who live with diabetes every day". He said his brother could afford the drug, but many others struggled to pay for their medication. As well as the price cap, as part of the new law there will be an investigation into the price hikes and the companies involved by the state's Attorney General Phil Weiser.

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[kitedoc]

Good to see and well overdue.

 

[EllieM]

In a fightback against drug manufacturers, Colorado's Governor Jared Polis this week passed a law capping insulin to payments at $100 for people with private insurance. Average monthly prices are between $600 and $900.

That's an improvement, but what happens to people without private insurance????

 

[Deleted member 308541]

That's an improvement, but what happens to people without private insurance????

Go without most probably...

 

[Mike d]

Third world health care from a country that should be leading the way. In many ways, the States are pathetic, no more so than in the field of medicine. Australia plays them on a break and my American wife knows that all too well.

 

[EllieM]

Go without most probably...

Die then, if they are T1.

 

[EllieM]

Third world health care from a country that should be leading the way. In many ways, the States are pathetic, no more so than in the field of medicine. Australia plays them on a break and my American wife knows that all too well.

And the sad thing is that the rich minority who have full health coverage get overtreated with unnecessary expensive tests, so it's not necessarily a good system even for the rich. Having said that, if you're rich with some obscure medical illness you do get very good treatment there, it's just it's not beneficial to society as a whole.

 

[Mike d]

When your employer (U.S.) can grant you medical benefits based on the position you hold, clearly something is radically wrong with the system. I know an Australian guy who broke an ankle bone in California.

$30,000 later and that was 1982 !!

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I know an Australian guy who broke an ankle bone in California.

$30,000 later and that was 1982 !!

It would have been cheaper to come back to Australia to get it fixed.

 

[Mike d]

The football club (Carlton) didn't know until after the accident and took immediate action not realising the dollar implications

 

[Robinredbreast]

It's a sart, but let's hope Colarado will make other states comply, it's scandalous that people are risking their lives because of 'cost'