During Diabetes Month, a group of U.S. Representatives introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act, aiming to extend the $35 monthly insulin cost cap to Americans with private insurance. The bill was announced by Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06), joined by Angie Craig (MN-02), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Kim Schrier (WA-08).
The proposed legislation would expand on a previous measure passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped insulin costs for seniors on Medicare. Representative McBath leads this effort as part of her role on the Education and Workforce Committee.
“No person should be forced to skip or ration medication because they cannot afford it,” said Rep. McBath. “With health care affordability concerns more relevant than ever, we must work with urgency to address some of the most common medical expenses that strain American household budgets. I am grateful to my colleagues for our continued work to drive down the cost of insulin for all who need it.”
Rep. Craig commented, “For years, pharmaceutical companies have raked in record profits by price gouging consumers – forcing everyday Minnesotans to make the impossible choice between picking up lifesaving prescriptions and putting food on the table. We have seen over time that the pressure we’ve put on Big Pharma is working, and this bill is the next step in our fight to make insulin affordable for every American who needs it.”
Rep. Landsman added, “Insulin is a lifesaving medication, but every day in this country people are forced to make drastic financial decisions just to afford it. Americans deserve affordable healthcare, and we have to finish the job of capping insulin costs, so no one has to struggle to survive.”
“High insulin prices can cost someone their life,” said Rep. Horsford. “I’m proud to partner with Representatives Craig, Landsman, McBath, and Schrier to make sure this critical medication is accessible and affordable to all who need it. State lawmakers in Nevada passed a bill ensuring affordable insulin prices earlier this summer, and the bill we’re introducing today will expand that effort nationally. As tens of millions of Americans stand to lose health care coverage from Republican ‘Big Beautiful’ bill cuts and their refusal to extend health care tax credits, there has never been a more important time to pass the Affordable Insulin Now Act into law.”
Rep. Schrier shared her personal experience: “As a doctor and someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over four decades, I have seen how the price of insulin has skyrocketed over the years and know firsthand the pressure that these price hikes have put on patients. Unaffordable insulin has even forced some to ration or go completely without the medication their lives depend on, with deadly consequences. I was proud to work with my colleagues to cap the cost of insulin for those on Medicare, and I am thrilled to continue our work to lower the price of this lifesaving medication for millions more.”
The legislation is supported by organizations including Protect Our Care, American Diabetes Association (ADA), Social Security Works, and Breakthrough T1D.
Protect Our Care Director of Policy Programs Vaishu Jawahar stated: “No one should go bankrupt buying the insulin that keeps them alive. By capping what privately insured Americans pay out-of-pocket for insulin, the Affordable Insulin Now Act extends a critical lifeline to diabetics and their families. While Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress continue driving up drug costs and padding drug company profits, this legislation will save lives and make health care more affordable for everyday Americans.”
Catherine Ferguson from ADA said: “The ADA supports the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would limit out-of-pocket cost for insulin at $35 a month for individuals with private health insurance… This bill is a critical step to ensure people with diabetes who need insulin to live can afford it.”
Alex Lawson from Social Security Works commented: “No one should suffer, go bankrupt or die because big pharma billionaires are price gouging… This bill is a critical step towards ensuring that insulin is affordable and protecting Americans from criminally high prices that pharmaceutical companies charge.”
Lucy McBath has focused on lowering healthcare costs since joining Congress in 2019 after replacing Karen Handel as representative for Georgia’s 7th district (source). In 2022 she helped secure passage of an initial $35 per month copay cap for Medicare recipients; following its enactment all three major manufacturers capped their own costs.
In recent elections held in 2024 Lucy McBath won re-election against Jeff Criswell by securing nearly 75% of votes.
