Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law Friday intended to bring down the cost of insulin.
Beginning next year, a 30-day supply of insulin will be capped at $100 — but only for people who have health insurance.
At a news conference in Springfield, Pritzker said the current average monthly price of $500 and up has been driven higher by middlemen, “forcing many insulin users to find their medication by substituting lower quality products or seeking options outside this country, or even rationing their supply — and some have died doing so.”
Megan Blair said she is one of those people. She said insulin costs her $1800 a month — a price she cannot afford.
“I’ve been in and out of the hospital, close to being in a diabetic coma more than once, due to not taking my medication like I should,” Blair said. “Not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice but to ration the insulin I did have.”
Meanwhile, Pritzker said the Illinois Department of Insurance would be taking a closer look at insulin pricing — an attempt to prevent future overpricing of the medicine.
The price caps do not go into effect until January 1, 2021.
The legislation is Senate Bill 667.
