Connor Backing Measure to Lower Insulin Costs, Make Health Care More Affordable

LOCKPORT, Ill. – State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is fighting for affordable diabetes treatment with his support of legislation increasing access to lifesaving medication by capping insulin payments at $100 per month.

“Huge insulin prices cause people with diabetes to stop insulin treatments, which leads to their diabetes getting worse and possibly putting them into emergency rooms more often. We need to stop these rate hikes by big insurance and pharmaceutical companies that stop people from stabilizing their diabetes,” Connor said. “Millions of Illinoisans are forced to put up with price gouging of their life saving medications on top of the concerns and costs of diabetes.”

Connor is supporting Senate Bill 667, a new proposal seeking to cap patients’ insulin payments at $100 a month. This bill is addressing the massive spike in insulin prices; between 2002 and 2013, out-of-pocket costs for insulin increased almost 300%. There are 1.3 million adult diabetics in Illinois, many of whom regularly rely on insulin to maintain their health and quality of life.

Capping insulin costs for the millions of adult diabetics in Illinois follows Connor’s pledge to build a stronger Illinois, which includes more affordable health care for families. This year, Connor backed major legislation requiring Illinois insurance companies to cover the cost of EpiPens for people 18 and under, helping remove another huge financial burden for families with children who suffer from food allergies. He has also worked extensively to combat gender inequality by expanding insurance coverage for women’s reproductive health care.

“Providing affordable health care for every Illinoisan is a huge part of my pledge to build a stronger Illinois,” Connor said. “Whether patients are facing high costs for cancer screenings, EpiPens, reproductive healthcare, or, in this case, insulin; I’m committed to combating bad-faith practices that hurt patient care through price gouging.”