AURORA, Ill. – Legislation backed by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, to require insurance companies to cover epinephrine injection devices for children was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Life-threatening food allergies are very common among children and teens, and EpiPens are necessary to combat serious effects from anaphylaxis but can come at a very high cost,” said Hernandez. “This bill is important because it ensures that children’s health care is prioritized over profit.”

Hernandez supported House Bill 3435, which makes Illinois the first state to require all private and public insurers to cover epinephrine injectors, or EpiPens, for those 18 years old and younger. EpiPens are injectors that treat severe allergic reactions to insect bites, drugs, foods and other substances. The price of EpiPens has increased by more than 400% in recent years, forcing many families to pay over $600 out of pocket for medically necessary treatments.

“All families deserve access to quality health care, and that means ensuring that the medication and treatment they need is affordable,” said Hernandez. “I am proud that our state is the first in the country to pass such important legislation, and I hope we are setting an example for the rest of the country to do the same.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Insurance companies will be required to cover lifesaving EpiPens for children under legislation passed by state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook. Carroll presented the bill to the House last week alongside his young daughter, Brooke, who manages severe allergies.

“Many people, especially children, depend on EpiPens to prevent a serious allergy from costing them their lives,” Carroll said. “The fact that these injectors are not already covered in insurance plans is outrageous, and my legislation changes that by demanding insurance companies to cover the cost of EpiPens for young people.”

Carroll’s House Bill 3435 recently passed the Illinois House of Representatives with bipartisan support. His measure would require health care plans to cover the costs of EpiPens for people who are 18 years old or younger. Epinephrine is a chemical used in an injector to help people handle anaphylaxis, which is a severe medical emergency that results in a patient breaking out in hives, drop in blood pressure, chest tightness and more.

The cost of an EpiPen has skyrocketed over the last decade, rising by more than 400 percent for the two-pen injector pack. Without insurance, these EpiPens can cost a family nearly $700 and typically have a shelf life of a little more than a year before the medicine needs to be restocked in stores.

“The sole reason anyone buys insurance in the first place is to protect themselves from financial catastrophe, and it is clear to me that EpiPens should be included in coverage plans,” Carroll said. “Parents should not be on the hook to pay for these lifesaving EpiPens when their price is gouged. Insurance companies and their coverage plans should be helping families cover the high costs of medication, not padding their profits.”