AARP New Jersey Applauds Senate for Passing Bill to Make Insulin More Affordable

AARP New Jersey Applauds Senate for Passing Bill to Make Insulin More Affordable

Urges New Jersey Assembly to Take Action on A1669

Statement from AARP New Jersey Associate State Director of Advocacy Crystal McDonald

NEW BRUNSWICK (Nov. 16, 2020) – “We applaud the New Jersey Senate for passing legislation today, which was sponsored by Senate President Sweeney and Senators Vitale and Pou, that makes insulin more affordable for Garden State residents. The bill (S526) ensures consumers can receive insulin for their standard copayment without having to first satisfy their deductible. It also requires state health insurers to limit any necessary copayment to $50 per 30-day supply. The bill passed with unanimous bi-partisan support.

“The high price of prescription drugs is a burden for many Garden State residents – especially during the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Every day, our relatives, friends, and neighbors are forced to choose between filling life-saving prescriptions or paying rent, buying food and meeting other critical needs.

“As of 2017, more than 918,000 New Jersey residents had pre-diabetes or diabetes. In 2017, the annual cost of Lantus, a form of insulin used to treat diabetes, was more than $4,700 per year. The cost of Lantus increased 62 percent from 2012 to 2017. That is unacceptable. For many of these individuals, insulin serves as the only drug to help them stay healthy. 

“Medications don’t work if people can’t afford them. This bill takes an important step toward lowering costs for consumers so that they can afford their medication as prescribed. AARP New Jersey urges the New Jersey Assembly to take action on this issue and looks forward to working with the Assembly as it considers A1669.

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About AARP New Jersey 
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP New Jersey educates and advocates on behalf of those 50 and older on issues that are important to them, their families and to all Garden State residents. The organization works to strengthen New Jersey communities with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/nj or follow @AARPNJ on social media.