An estimated 1.3 million adults in the one of the world’s wealthiest nations are having to self-ration their insulin doses due to high costs, increasing their risk of complications including kidney damage, blindness and even death.
The average for a standard unit of insulin in the US is nearly $100, compared to $12 in Canada, and $7.52 in the UK.
In the US health care and insurance system some patients have to pay the full cost of their insulin, while others pay less.
The issue continues to be raised in the House of Representatives, the Senate and with the President.
At a State level there have also been attempts to cap the amount that can be charged for insulin, but still many people are left out and thus increasing their risk of chronic complications, even death.
Quoted in the New Scientist, Andrew Mulcahy at the RAND corporation in Washington DC claims that certain demographics are already known to face higher insulin costs due to healthcare disparities in the system.
People who are Black, under the age of 65, or considered low-to-middle income were also more likely to ration their insulin compared with people in other socioeconomic groups.
The costs of chronic complications, for treatment and the lost value of economic activity when someone of working age is incapacitated are well documented, yet action to reduce the cost is slow.
Election Issue
The issue of the cost of insulin in the USA became an issue in the State of Georgia’s Senate runoff.
In both the general and runoff campaigns, Senator Raphael Warnock, the Democratic incumbent, made much of his efforts in Congress to cap the price of insulin at $35 a month, talking them up in ads, debates and speeches and demonstrating how diabetes can be an issue for politicians chasing votes, especially in tight contests.
It is believed that Senator Warnock narrowly won as a consequence of raising the condition and the stance he took.
Raphael Warnock (right), Democratic Party, 1,816,096 votes (51.4 percent).
Herschel Walker, Republican Party, 1,719,483 votes (48.6 percent).
Advocacy Action: Do you keep diabetes issues in the public eye, especially where costs are impacting on patients? Can you raise the profile of such issues among your electorate that will contain many voters with, or close to someone with diabetes. They could tip the balance when the elections come round.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2342787-over-a-million-people-in-the-us-ration-insulin