Sen. Hirono Joins Sen. Warnock, Colleagues in Introducing the Affordable Insulin Now Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in introducing new legislation to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for Americans. The Affordable Insulin Now Act will require Medicare plans and private group or individual plans to cap patients’ out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month. In Hawaii, 10.5% of individuals over the age of 18 have diabetes. Diabetes is even more prevalent among Hawaii’s Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations, with 13.8% of Native Hawaiians and 15.3% of Pacific Islanders living with diabetes. This legislation will significantly lower costs for these individuals—many whom are paying exorbitantly high prices for this life-saving medication. According to one estimate, diabetics spend close to $6,000 annually on insulin alone. The costs for insulin continues to rise and manufacturers of the drug are pocketing record levels of revenue from insulin sales.
“Very few people are able to afford the thousands of dollars for insulin that drug companies are charging—the same companies that are raking in record profits. I’m proud to support Senator Warnock’s bill which will cap insulin at $35 a month. Let’s get this bill passed,” said Senator Hirono.
Under the Affordable Insulin Now Act, private group or individual plans would be required to cover one of each insulin dosage form (vial, pen) and insulin type (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month. Medicare Part D plans, both stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage drug plans, would be required to charge no more than $35 for whichever insulin products they cover in 2023 and 2024, and for all insulin products beginning in 2025.
Over the last several years, Senator Hirono has consistently fought to expand access to affordable health care for communities in Hawaii and across the country. In 2017, Hirono introduced a measure to protect access to affordable health care for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Two years later Republicans, yet again, threatened to repeal coverage for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions and Senator Hirono delivered a floor speech urging the swift passage of a resolution to defend the protections provided under the Affordable Care Act.
In 2021, Senator Hirono introduced legislation that makes all recommended vaccines accessible to Medicare beneficiaries, eliminating unnecessary out-of-pocket expense and enabling people – including elderly, disabled, and chronically ill beneficiaries – to receive vaccinations. Senator Hirono also introduced legislation that would address a wide spectrum of health equity concerns among racial and ethnic minorities, as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the country.
The Affordable Insulin Now Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
The legislation is also endorsed by: Protect Our Care; American Diabetes Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers, Community Catalyst, Public Citizen, and Social Security Works.
Read the full bill text HERE.
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