Last Tuesday, on March 25th, the North Dakota Senate voted 39-7 to pass a bill that would cap insulin at $25. House Bill 1114 specifically limits out-of-pocket costs for monthly supplies of insulin at $25 for North Dakota’s commercial insurance market. The bill also provides a $25-a-month cap on insulin-related medical supplies. These caps affect people on individual, small group, and large group insurance plans in the fully insured market. This doesn’t apply to the self-insured market.
Nina Kritzberger, 16, speaks before the Government and Veteran Affairs Committee in favor of an insulin cap for the North Dakota commercial insurance market on Jan. 9, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)
The bill will cost around $834,000 for the 2025-2027 budget cycle. Advocates for the bill stated that the insulin caps would ensure treatment is available for anyone in need. Opponents of the bill have said it would unfairly shift costs to businesses and insurers. Although the bill initially passed the House in February, it will still need Governor Kelly Armstrong’s approval before becoming state law.
For further elaboration on what this bill means, I’ve explained some of the key terms and factors. For people paying out-of-pocket, meaning the payment is covered completely by the individual without help from insurance, the cap will reduce the costs of Insulin even despite a previous cap of $35. As previously mentioned, the cap doesn’t apply to self-insurance, meaning people who set aside emergency funds instead of paying insurance, but these out-of-pocket caps could help some individuals who are also self-insured.
Insulin caps have grown in demand as the United States continues to increase its focus on affordable care after several other insulin bills capped the price at $35. While progress is a welcome change, it’s still worrying to see the US compared to other high-earning countries. According to RAND, Insulin prices in the US are nearly 9 times higher than in 33 other high-income countries. However, the American People’s continued advocacy continues to inspire change.
High insulin prices are leaving some people who need the drug without access. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)