North Dakota caps insulin at $25 a month after cost crisis
North Dakota became one of 29 US states to cap patients' out-of-pocket insulin costs at $25 monthly.
Patients with diabetes in North Dakota will now pay no more than $25 a month for insulin. The $25 cap applies regardless of their insurance deductible.
The cap is part of a growing movement across 29 US states to limit what people pay out-of-pocket for the drug. North Dakota state senator Sean Cleary, a Republican, co-sponsored the legislation.
His party usually opposes price regulation. Insulin prices soared for years, forcing many patients to ration the drug or skip doses, sometimes with fatal results.
Prices have moderated recently, but families still face steep costs. The Kritzbergers, a farming family in North Dakota, spend at least $8,000 yearly on diabetes care despite having insurance.
Their 17-year-old daughter Nina depends on insulin to survive.
- $25
- Monthly insulin cap
- 29 US states
- States with similar caps
- 17 years old
- Nina's age
Why it mattersThe caps protect patients from runaway drug costs and represent rare bipartisan agreement on healthcare in the US.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect. Australia subsidizes insulin through Medicare, though costs still vary by type and coverage.
Corroborated bywxxinews.org·wyso.org
