Congress should extend the $35 insulin cost cap to all Americans with private insurance
Source: "SEN JEAN SHAHEEN: Make insulin affordable for every family that needs it | Fox News." June 15, 2026. www.foxnews.com
The Gist
Senator Shaheen argues that Congress should extend the successful $35 monthly insulin cost cap from Medicare to all Americans with private insurance. She points to the Medicare program's success in reducing costs and improving health outcomes, while noting that millions still face high insulin costs simply because they have different insurance.
Conclusion
Congress should pass the bipartisan INSULIN Act to cap monthly insulin costs at $35 for Americans with employer-sponsored insurance and help uninsured patients access affordable insulin
Premises
- Health care costs are a top concern for Americans, with one-third cutting back on expenses to afford health care
- Nearly 8.4 million Americans use insulin, and up to one in five ration it due to cost, risking their health
- For people with Type 1 diabetes, insulin is literally a matter of life and death
- The Medicare insulin cap under the Inflation Reduction Act has proven successful, with 75% of Medicare patients now paying $35 or less and average costs dropping by more than half
- The policy has reduced emergency department visits and hospital stays for seniors with diabetes complications
- Millions of Americans with private insurance still lack similar protections, creating unfair disparities based on insurance type
- The bipartisan INSULIN Act has broad support with 13 Republicans and 13 Democrats backing it, and overwhelming public support across party lines
Assumptions
- What works for Medicare beneficiaries will work similarly for those with private insurance
- The $35 cap amount is appropriate and sustainable for the private insurance market
- Bipartisan support in Congress indicates political feasibility
- Reducing insulin costs will not create significant negative economic consequences for pharmaceutical companies or insurers
- The government should intervene in healthcare markets to ensure affordability of essential medications