Is Affordable Insulin Available? Survey Reveals Uninsured Americans Paying More Despite Promised Price Reduction

According to a survey conducted by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's office and released on Thursday, Americans without health insurance pay an average of $98 for Eli Lilly And Co's LLY generic insulin, despite the company's promise to reduce the list price to $25 per vial on May 1. 

The survey analyzed data from over 300 U.S. pharmacies. The findings revealed that one-third of the surveyed pharmacies charged uninsured patients $164 or more for Lilly's Insulin Lispro, with the highest-priced pharmacy charging $330. 

This is concerning given that Lilly, Novo Nordisk A/S NVO, and Sanofi SA SNY had announced in March that they would reduce insulin prices by at least 70% later in the year. 

These reductions came after U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to extend the $35 cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs to a broader population through the government's Medicare health program.

Among the surveyed stores, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc WBA, Walmart Inc WMT, Rite Aid Corp RAD, and CVS Health Corp CVS requested average prices of $166, $161, $89, and $39, respectively, for Insulin Lispro, Reuters reported.

Furthermore, the report revealed that less than a quarter of CVS pharmacies stocked the generic insulin, whereas 74% of Walgreens pharmacies, 82% of Rite Aid pharmacies, and Walmart drug stores carried it. Nearly 43% of all surveyed stores did not stock the drug, which Warren's office found troubling, as the pharmacies offering more affordable Insulin Lispro were the least likely to have it in stock.

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