On a “bad diabetes day,” as Sammie Delaney Young calls it, her blood sugar level goes on a rollercoaster ride, even when she’s doing everything right.
Young, 25, is one of approximately 3 million people in California living with diabetes, and she knows there’s nothing she can do to change the fact that she has type 1 diabetes, which requires insulin daily. The Los Angeles County resident also understands she’s faced with unique challenges as only about 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
“When I say I have diabetes, a lot of times people will say, ‘Well, you don’t look like you’re diabetic, or, why don’t you just not eat cake,’” Young said. “People don’t understand that it’s lifelong and chronic and affects my life every single day.”
Before pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly implemented a $35 per month price cap on its insulin for insured customers in March, following a California lawsuit, Young was spending about $150 monthly for the needed insulin as well as hundreds of dollars in insulin pump supplies, she said.
A bill unanimously passed in the California Senate this week seeks to provide financial relief to Californians who live with diabetes by banning co-pays over $35 for a 30-day supply and prohibits health plans from imposing a deductible on insulin prescription drugs.
“Insulin only being $35 makes such a big difference,” Young said. “I live paycheck to paycheck and the savings that I’m having every paycheck every month for the rest of my life make a big impact.”
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, also calls for insurance to cover “equipment and supplies for the management and treatment” of diabetes, including blood glucose monitors and testing strips, insulin pumps, insulin pens and aids to assist those who are visually impaired.
“Californians should be able to access life-saving medications without being forced to skip meals or jump through endless hoops,” said…
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