Over the 4 year, US insulin prices doubled: diabetics take extreme measures

Over the past 4 years, insulin prices have almost doubled, with the result that many people with diabetes are forced to take extreme measures. Writes about it USA Today.

Фото: Depositphotos

The Mindy Patterson family of Columbus, Ohio pays almost 1000 dollars a month for insulin. Her husband Rock, 47 years old, and her two sons, 19-year-old Pierce and 14-year-old Martin, suffer from 1 type diabetes and need insulin daily.

But the medicines they depend on so desperately are expensive.

The family pays for insulin monthly from 300 to 400 dollars per person from their own funds.

“It’s really expensive,” Mindy, 49, said.

According to her, without medical insurance, her family will pay about 5000 dollars a month for medicines that they need.

In people with 1 type diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin. According to the nonprofit institute of medical expenses, patients with this disease require several doses of insulin per day, it will cost $ 5 705 per person at 2016 prices, which is $ 2841 more than in 2012 year.

According to a survey conducted in 2018 by UpWell Health from Salt Lake City, which provides home delivery of drugs and medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases, treatment costs continue to rise.

“Insulin prices have doubled in four years,” said Kathy Passun, director of the Central Ohio Diabetes Association. “And they continue to grow.”

The rising cost of insulin has attracted close attention from members of both parties in Congress.

On the subject: The diabetic groom died deciding to save on insulin to pay for the wedding

All people with 1 type diabetes and some with 2 type, whose body does not produce insulin as it should, need a drug.

According to the 2017 National Diabetes Statistical Report of the Year, more than 30,3 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes, and from 90% to 95% of them suffer from type 2 diabetes. Unlike people with 1 type diabetes, people with 2 type can often reduce their dependence on insulin through a healthier diet and exercise.

"As extreme as it sounds, if I don't get insulin, I'm going to die," said Anthony Mayer, 29, who has Type 1 diabetes.

After insurance, he pays 240 dollars for one pack of insulin, which lasts for nine days.

“These people cannot be treated with anything other than insulin,” said Mayer, director of youth and family programs at the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.

Today, there are three manufacturers of insulin: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. Manufacturers set the price and negotiate with pharmacy managers, companies and insurers.

“It comes down to pure greed,” Patterson said. “They line their pockets.” They make a profit."

When asked about their cost, insulin manufacturers said that most patients do not pay the list price for the drug.

Eli Lilly spokesman Greg Kuterman said Eli Lilly's list price for the most commonly used insulin is currently $275, down from $2009 in 99,65. He said the last price increase for the company's products was in May 2017.

“In the vast majority of cases, people pay far less than the list price at the pharmacy,” he wrote.

Sanofi's net insulin price declined by 25% from 2012, but average drug costs for patients with private health insurance and Medicare rose by 60%, said Sanofi spokesman John Florio.

Novo Nordisk officials admitted that more and more patients are forced to pay the price of the price list, but not the majority.

On the subject: 'Diabetes in the US - death sentence': why participants in the 'insulin caravan' go to Canada for medicine

Ohio lawmakers are trying to make insulin more affordable.

Ohio Rep. Beth Liston, a Democrat, introduced a package of bills about insulin pricing about a month ago.

A law on insulin availability would limit the cost of insulin provided by health plans to $ 100 per 30-day supply. Under the House of Representatives bill, the Ohio Attorney General must advise on insulin prices in the state.

“We need more transparency and we need pricing to be looked at more clearly,” Liston said.

Some people with diabetes begin to cut back on insulin so that they last for a long period, which also saves money.

This division of servings led to the death of Patterson's daughter-in-law Meagan Carter. In 2000, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and in 2014 she was admitted to a hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition in which her blood sugar becomes too high and her blood becomes acidic. This can be fatal in just a few hours or days.

“I think at that point she was starting to cut back on her portions every now and then,” Patterson said. “She lost her nursing job in June 2018 and her health insurance along with it. As a result, I paid $900 a month for three ampoules of insulin, each of which was enough for a week.

Carter got nauseous on Christmas Eve and developed symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.

When her neighbor returned home from work on Christmas Day, she found Carter on the couch, but assumed that she was sleeping, and also went to bed. The next morning, a woman found Carter on the couch in the same place. She died at Christmas.

According to Patterson, when the Carter family cleaned her apartment, they found an empty insulin bottle and another that was barely started.

“She’s definitely cut back on portions,” Patterson said. “I have to fix this because I can’t lose anyone else.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

The elixir of youth and the longevity gene: how modern science fights aging

Useless and dangerous: 29 million Americans take aspirin daily without an indication

'Diabetes in the US - death sentence': why participants in the 'insulin caravan' go to Canada for medicine

Five myths about a healthy lifestyle

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.