Patients with diabetes praise lawmaker for new bill

TRI-CITIES, Wash. — State Senator Karen Keiser has proposed a new bill that would cap the sky rocketing costs of insulin at $100 per month.

“The copays have risen as the costs have risen. We need to put a lid on it,” Sen. Keiser said.

According to a 2016 study, insulin costs have nearly tripled in a span of only 10 years.

Jennifer Nelson lives in Finley and told Action News she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes almost 11 years ago.

She needs four viles of insulin a month costing $300 a piece to regulate her blood sugar levels from getting too high or too low. This means she pays around $1,200 each month.

"I was told no matter what I do or how I do it, I will never ever come off insulin," said Nelson.

Nelson's mother, Kathy Estrada, helps her manage her diabetes and says dealing with it is just a part of their daily routine.

"Everyone knows this is the problem, the question is do we have the will to act," asked Sen. Keiser.

Estrada and Nelson explain the cap would be life saving for them and for others who might be struggling to pay for their medication.

"To us that would be feasible, we could probably afford $400 a month," said Estrada.

For now they will have to stick to twice a year trips out of the county to buy a drug her daughter needs to stay alive.

Estrada and Nelson showed Action News the two bottles of insulin they bought from the United States for $300 and the one that can be bought in Canada for $70 or Mexico for $55.

According to the box, the ingredients are the same and the package says they are both made in the United States.

Jennifer and Kathy want to know why insulin prices are so high in the U.S. and they want answers from lawmakers.

"Do your job and look out for us," said Estrada.

The bill will go before the Senate Healthcare committee when the legislative session starts on January 13.