Why is insulin still so expensive for diabetes patients in the U.S.?

Insulin is an essential drug to treat diabetes. Despite existing for over 100 years, 'evergreening,' supply chain issues, and more are keeping insulin costs high.

Nicole Smith-Holt’s son, Alec, died in 2017 from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough insulin.

Alec had Type 1 diabetes. The 26-year-old had been recently removed from his parents' health insurance plan and was about $300 short of the $1,300 he needed to pay for his insulin medication, his mother said.

In a bid to wait until his next payday to purchase the medication, he rationed the insulin he had left. 

“Unfortunately, his body was found three days prior to payday,” said Smith-Holt, of Richfield, Minnesota. 

Nicole Smith-Holt with her son, Alec.Courtesy Nicole Smith-HoltIn the five years since Alec’s death, not much has changed: The high cost of insulin remains a significant barrier to care for many Americans.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/why-insulin-so-expensive-diabetes-united-states-rcna39295

---