Faith, Democrats are putting government on the side of families, not Big Pharma. Just about everybody in America either takes insulin or knows and loves someone who does. Access to insulin is a matter of life and death for diabetes patients — and drug companies have taken advantage of this, plus the fact that there's little market competition, to hike up prices. Before President Biden took office, the cost of insulin had increased by over 1,200% since the 1990s, and patient spending on insulin nearly tripled from 2002 to 2013 — then nearly doubled again between 2012 and 2016. About one in six Americans with diabetes had to ration insulin because they could not afford it. But starting this year we began to tackle these horrifying statistics. Because of the Inflation Reduction Act that passed in 2022, seniors on Medicare didn't have to pay more than $35 a month for their insulin. Every Democrat in Congress voted for this life-saving legislation. Every Republican in Congress voted against it. Many Republicans even stopped us from extending the same cap to cover every American who needs insulin. They'd rather protect Big Pharma's profits than protect lives. It's shameful. But we're staying in the fight. I'm proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 introduced by Senators Raphael Warnock and John Kennedy. This legislation would create a $35-per-month cap on insulin products for everyone — both individuals with private insurance plans and those who are uninsured. We've got to keep fighting hard to hold Big Pharma accountable and make our government work for families. Will you add your name to signal your support for this critical policy? Now, even though we couldn't extend the $35 cap to all Americans in last year's legislation, we still sent a message to Big Pharma — and we've gotten results. Thanks to the momentum from this push, and public pressure from consumers, the three top insulin manufacturers have capped costs for insulin products at $35 a month. And by staying in the fight, we can make this a reality for all. Our fight to reduce health care costs for families doesn't stop here. But this is a critical next step in recognizing health care as a basic human right for everyone — and it will make a substantial difference in the everyday lives of people across the country. I'll keep fighting for everyone to get the care they need. Let's send a message to Big Pharma: You can't just keep jacking up prices forever. Add your name to let me know you agree with this plan to lower the costs of insulin for all patients — and let's fight side by side to get this done. Thanks for being a part of this, Elizabeth |
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