Mason Fighting to Lower the Cost of Insulin

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Residents who rely on insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels could see significant financial relief under legislation backed by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee. If passed into law, Senate Bill 667 would cap the out-of-pocket cost for insulin, which can cost patients thousands of dollars per year, to just $100 per month.

“The unethical price gouging of insulin has forced many residents to resort to dangerous alternatives for obtaining insulin just to stay alive, such as purchasing it from black market street dealers or from poorly regulated pharmacies in other countries,” said Mason. “The pharmaceutical companies that have manufactured this crisis are reprehensible, and I am determined to give our residents real protection from this potentially deadly corporate greed.”

According to Reuters, the average cost of insulin per unit in the United States nearly doubled from 13 cents per unit to 25 cents per unit between 2012 to 2016. This price increase means residents with health insurance who rely on insulin to regulate their blood sugar must pay nearly $6,000 on average per year to purchase their medication.

“We must hold these exploitative healthcare executives accountable for their harmful practices, and we must give our residents relief from this totally unjust and life-threatening burden,” said Mason. “This legislation directly addresses sky-high insulin pricing by putting a cap on the out-of-pocket monthly cost for our residents, bringing much-needed financial relief to diabetics across Illinois.”