Edly-Allen Fights to Cut Costs for Lifesaving Insulin

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fighting to cut out of control costs to life-saving medical resources, state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, helped pass an initiative this week to cap monthly copays for insulin at $100.

“Lowering the cost of life-saving medical resources is critical to alleviate the continued financial burden on some of our more vulnerable residents,” said Edly-Allen. “People should not have to decide between buying groceries for their family or buying their gravely needed insulin.”

Earlier this week, Edly-Allen worked on the house floor to pass Senate Bill 667, which caps monthly copays for insulin at $100. According to a recent study, the price of insulin tripled between 2002 and 2013. That soaring increase has become an unbearable financial burden on many of the 1.3 million residents of Illinois who require insulin to manage their diabetes and forced many diabetic patients to ration their insulin because they can’t afford rising costs each month.

“Many people in our community depend on this life-saving medication and simply can’t afford the continuous price increases each month,” said Edly-Allen. “Pharmaceutical companies and corporations have continued to line their pockets while many residents struggle to make ends meet and have access to critically needed medical resources like insulin.”

For more information about this legislation, or for any other questions or concerns about the struggles our state is facing, please contact Edly-Allen’s office at 224-206-7647 or email repedlyallen@gmail.com.