Colorado Caps Insulin Costs for All Diabetics

Colorado has become the second state — after Minnesota — to pass a law capping the price of insulin for both insured and uninsured diabetic patients, continuing a trend of states passing legislation to rein in the cost of the life-saving medicine — so far, mostly for people with health insurance — in response to what they see as inaction by Congress and the federal government.

Slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2022, the new law creates an insulin affordability program that will give eligible diabetics access to insulin for 12 months at a cost of no more than $50 for a 30-day supply and allow for a once-a-year emergency insulin prescription priced at $35 or less for a 30-day supply.

Numerous other states — including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia — have passed laws to cap insulin prices for insured residents, often by limiting co-pays.