FACT BRIEF

Have diabetes medications experienced high inflation in recent years?

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

By Lisa Freedland

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YES

The price of diabetes medications and supplies has been on the rise, increasing by 58% between 2014 and 2019, according to affordable health care advocate GoodRx. When insulin is included, the spike grows to 76%.

This is an ongoing trend. Research from the American Diabetes Association found that "the average price of insulin almost tripled between 2002 and 2013."

Insulin prices in the U.S. are an outlier globally: insulin prices are more than eight times higher in the U.S. than in 32 high-income nations combined, according to a RAND Corporation study.

Lawmakers in at least 36 states have introduced bills to stop the rise in insulin prices, but are met with pushback from manufacturers. In April 2021, a bill that would allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices was reintroduced. It passed the House but stalled in the Senate.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

GoodRx GoodRx List Price Index Reveals Rising Cost of Diabetes Treatments

Diabetes Care Insulin Access and Affordability Working Group: Conclusions and Recommendations

RAND Insulin Prices Are Dramatically Higher in the United States Than in Other Countries

NBC News States are trying to cap the price of insulin. Pharmaceutical companies are pushing back.

Center for American Progress H.R. 3 Could Save Patients Thousands of Dollars on Prescription Drugs

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