New Edly-Allen Law Guarantees Insurance Coverage for EpiPens for Children

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law sponsored by state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, will ensure that families in need of lifesaving EpiPens for their children will have the cost covered by health insurance plans.

“As a mom, I know the sense of anxiety that something like a severe allergy can cause a parent. The constant worry about your child’s safety is real, and no parent should have to worry about the unaffordable cost of a device that could save their child’s life,” said Edly-Allen.

House Bill 3435, effective Jan. 1, 2020, requires healthcare policies in Illinois to cover epinephrine autoinjectors for patients under 18 years of age. Epinephrine autoinjectors are a life-saving drug used to stop severe asthma or allergy attacks. The cost of one of the most popular autoinjectors, EpiPens, increased nearly 500 percent since over the last decade at a current cost of $300 to over $600. Medications like EpiPens have a shelf life of about 18 months, requiring frequent replacements if not used.

“Requiring EpiPen insurance coverage for minors is one step in guaranteeing affordable, commonsense access to basic healthcare for Illinois children,” Edly-Allen added. “Our laws have to keep up with rising trends in food allergies especially, and this bill will ensure that all families have access to the medical care needed to keep their children safe and healthy.”