WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) voted to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 per month, lowering drug costs for working families. The Affordable Insulin Now Act would enact a critical drug pricing reform to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin in Medicare Part D and commercial health insurance.

“No person should have to choose between paying for rent or food, and life-saving medication – yet for too many, the price of insulin has continued to skyrocket, putting basic health care out of reach. Today, House Democrats are saying no more,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “This critical and urgent legislation will cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month, ensuring that the 37 million Americans with diabetes are able to afford to care for themselves and their families. This bill will save lives and save families money as we continue to recover and rebuild from the pandemic. Democrats are listening to the American people, responding to their needs, and fighting to ensure that in this country, health care is a right, not a privilege for the wealthy.”

According to the Health Care Costs Institute, insulin prices nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016, with the average price for a 40-day supply of insulin increasing from $344 to $666. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $327 billion yearly, and the American Diabetes Association has asserted that diabetics account for $1 of every $4 spent on health care in the U.S. 

###