Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) applauded Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear for signing legislation that will cap insulin co-pays at $30 per month, regardless of the quantity or type of insulin needed to fill the insured patient's prescription. Governor Beshear and bill sponsor Representative Danny Bentley provided expert leadership on this important legislation to reduce the burden of insulin costs for people living with diabetes.
Kentucky joins 14 other states as well as the District of Columbia that have enacted insulin copay caps to reduce costs of this life-saving drug.
“People shouldn’t die because they can’t afford to live,” said Gary Dougherty, Director of State Government Affairs for the American Diabetes Association. “We at the American Diabetes Association consistently hear from people with diabetes who struggle to afford their daily insulin. House Bill 95 will reduce the financial burden for Kentuckians on state-regulated health plans so they will not have to choose between insulin and utilities, rent, or food."
Representative Bentley has been persistent in his leadership on behalf of the nearly 1.7 million Kentuckians living with or at risk for diabetes. He had sponsored similar legislation last year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic ending the session, just before the final vote on the bill. House Bill 95 received unanimous support at all points in the legislative process and will become effective on January 1, 2022.
The ADA continues to be a leader in federal and state efforts to ensure that insulin is affordable and accessible for all people who need the life-sustaining medication.
For more information about House Bill 95, please contact Rep. Bentley at Danny.Bentley@lrc.ky.gov. If you are struggling to pay for insulin or know someone who is, the ADA has resources to help – visit InsulinHelp.org.
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About the American Diabetes Association
Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
