S. 100 · 119th Congress · Senate
Affordable Insulin Now Act
Introduced 2025-01-15 · Sponsored by Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME) · Last updated 2026-03-30
Last action (2025-02-05): Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Summary
A bipartisan bill that would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for all insured Americans and establish a manufacturer discount program for uninsured patients. Builds on the $35 cap for Medicare patients established by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Good
Directly reduces costs for 8.4 million insulin users
An estimated 8.4 million Americans use insulin. Many report rationing doses due to cost, a practice that can lead to hospitalization or death. The $35 cap would eliminate this financial barrier for insured patients.
Bipartisan support signals feasibility
Co-sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, reflecting broad agreement that insulin affordability is a problem. The Medicare $35 cap passed with bipartisan support in 2022 and has been widely popular.
Addresses uninsured patients through manufacturer discount program
Unlike the IRA provision that only covers Medicare, this bill creates a discount program requiring manufacturers to offer insulin at $35 to uninsured patients, covering a significant gap in the current system.
The Bad
Caps costs but doesn't address underlying pricing
The bill shifts costs rather than reducing them. Insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) still pay list prices, which means the cost is absorbed into premiums. Critics argue this treats the symptom, not the disease of high drug pricing.
May increase insurance premiums
Health policy analysts note that cost-sharing caps can lead to higher premiums as insurers absorb more of the drug cost. The CBO estimated the IRA's Medicare insulin cap slightly increased overall Medicare spending.
Manufacturer discount program lacks enforcement teeth
The bill encourages but may not effectively compel all manufacturers to participate in the uninsured discount program. Without strong penalties, some manufacturers may find ways to circumvent the requirement.
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