New Bipartisan INSULIN Act Aims to Cap Insulin Costs for Patients

Thu Apr 02 2026 20:57:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of senators seeks to limit insulin prices to $35 per month, addressing the financial burden faced by diabetes patients across the U.S.

The INSULIN Act, recently introduced by a bipartisan coalition of senators, aims to cap the price of insulin at $35 per month for Americans with private insurance, a significant legislative step as families like the Brandons grapple with high out-of-pocket costs. While some patients have access to lower prices due to insurance, others face exorbitant costs. The new legislation draws on previous unsuccessful efforts but remains a beacon of hope for families managing diabetes as they navigate rising healthcare costs in a changing political landscape.

NEW YORK (AP) — Two-year-old Bain Brandon has Type 1 diabetes and needs insulin to live. But even with health insurance, the price tag isn’t cheap.

A one-month supply of insulin vials and a three-month supply of backup pens for the Mississippi toddler cost his parents $194 last week, according to his mom, 29-year-old Marlee Brandon. They can afford it right now — but she worries about the future.

“One day, Bain will be an adult, and he won’t be able to be on our insurance anymore,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how much and how expensive it is.”

A bipartisan group of senators is aiming to relieve that cost burden with the INSULIN Act, a bill to cap the cost of the lifesaving drug at $35 per month for Americans with private insurance plans. The bill, introduced last week by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-Maine, Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Kennedy, R-La., would also start a pilot program to provide more affordable insulin to uninsured Americans in 10 states.

The legislation, the latest in a long effort by some lawmakers of both parties to rein in the price of insulin, faces many hurdles, including concerns about the cost and other competing congressional priorities. Still, with Trump in the White House and Congress now controlled by his Republican Party, it creates an opportunity for a rare bipartisan victory on health affordability in a year when rising health care costs are a concern for voters of both parties.

Out-of-pocket costs for insulin, a vital drug for millions, vary widely

About 8.1 million people in the U.S. use insulin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes more than 2 million who have Type 1 diabetes and will die without regular access to insulin. The drug also helps control glucose levels for people with other types of diabetes.

But the price of insulin can vary widely. While some people with private insurance pay zero or very little, others pay hundreds of dollars each month on top of other costs for their diabetes, like pumps, blood glucose sensors and other supplies.

Major insulin makers Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk also have moved to cut the cost of insulin, with different combinations of cutting list prices, capping out-of-pocket costs and expanding affordability. Still, not all patients are covered.

Efforts to pass similar bills haven’t succeeded

While the new INSULIN Act has bipartisan support, it would not be the first time such legislation seemed to have momentum, only to fail. A previous attempt in 2022 did not pass the Senate.

Diabetes patients and advocates hold on to hope

Breana Glover, a 23-year-old restaurant server in Houston, moved to Texas from California because she needed cheaper living expenses to cover the high health costs associated with her Type 1 diabetes. She sees the $35 per month cap as a “small step towards everything becoming even more accessible,” aiding her ability to budget for basic necessities.

Advocates expect the young adult population to especially benefit from the bill, as many struggle without adequate health insurance, while expressing hope that this time, the necessary support will materialize.