Why Lowering the Cost of Insulin is so Hard in the U.S.

Over the weekend, Senate Democrats tried to rally support for a proposal that would have capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month for people not covered by Medicare — but fell just three votes short. The failure reflects the complexity in regulating insulin and the stronghold pharmaceutical companies have on the drug. However, they were able to secure the $35 insulin price cap for Medicare beneficiaries. More than 34 million people of all ages that have diabetes in the U.S. It’s considered the most expensive chronic illness in the country, with $1 out of every $4 in health care costs spent on caring for people with the condition.