Insulin price caps will save the lives of Coloradans
If the price of a product increased to 10 times the original price, would you still buy it? Most people wouldn’t.
Unfortunately, diabetics like me have no choice. We need insulin to survive. But the price of insulin, which has gone up by 1,000 percent over the last 25 years, despite no change in formula, has made it more and more difficult for families to afford.
Thankfully, relief is on the way. I was proud to be part of the effort to pass House Bill 1216, titled “Reduce Insulin Prices,” which caps out-ofpocket insulin payments at $100 per month.
I was even prouder to stand by Gov. Jared Polis as he signed this bill into law because I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on December 11th, 2016, making me one of the 400,000 Coloradans currently living with diabetes. I depend on insulin to survive.
The frightening rise in the price of insulin means that families have less money to spend on groceries, or a car payment, or a mortgage payment, or a college fund, or a family vacation.
Thankfully, I’ve been one of the luckier ones; my family is fortunate enough to afford the outrageous price of insulin.
Many others haven’t been so lucky. One-in-four Type-1 diabetics report rationing their insulin due to the high
cost of this life-saving drug.
This is extremely dangerous. Skipping insulin doses can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which is fatal if not treated. And going into ketoacidosis often requires a lengthy hospital stay, which costs families and our health care system a lot more than the insulin they should have gotten in the first place.
But today, we are all feeling relief across Colorado. Capping out-of-pocket insulin payments at $100 per month will be a lifeline to so many families who are suffering under the yoke of high drug costs.
We couldn’t have achieved this bipartisan victory without the hard work of Polis, Rep. Dylan Roberts, Sens. Kerry Donovan and Kevin Priola. And we couldn’t have done it without diabetics across our state speaking up, telling our stories, and pushing for change. This is how democracy is supposed to work: people uniting with a common purpose to make positive change.
To all of the young people out there — you shouldn’t be afraid to get involved. There are others like you; seek them out, find your voice, and advocate for change.
Things can get better if we demand it.
At some point, I’ll be on my own health insurance, and I will be thankful for this protection now enshrined in Colorado law. I hope other states follow Colorado’s lead, not only on capping the price of insulin but on combating the high cost of prescription drugs, no matter the disease.
I didn’t ask to be a diabetic. No one does. What we are asking for is to be treated fairly, and to be given a fair shot to succeed in life without being overburdened by drug costs.
I thank the legislators and Polis who heard our cry and changed the law. It’s hard enough dealing with a disease, it’s even worse when you’re constantly worrying about the cost of treatment. Your actions will mean the world to 400,000 Coloradans whose lives just got a little easier.