Senate Bill 667 would make Illinois the second state in the nation to set a cap on insulin payments, limiting patients’ out-of-pocket costs at $100 for a 30-day supply.
Since the turn of the century, insulin costs have skyrocketed. In 2001, vials of Sanofi’s Lantus brand cost $35 a vial and Novo Nordisk’s Novolog cost $40. In 2018, those costs jumped over 600% to $270 and $289, according to data from IBM Watson Health.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, approximately 1.3 million adults in Illinois have diabetes, which is 12.5% of the state’s population.
“Out of control corporate greed has driven up insulin costs to the point where people are forced to make impossible decisions. No one should be forced to choose between medication or groceries,” said Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), the Senate sponsor of the measure. “We have a responsibility to take action on this issue immediately and prioritize the well-being of the people of Illinois over the profits of pharmaceutical companies.”
The bill was originally filed in late May and will be reintroduced during the veto session.
