As a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I am grateful for the leadership of Sen. Dan Feltes on House Bill 1280, a bill he co-wrote, co-sponsored, and testified on and pushed for in both the House and the Senate. HB 1280 will cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at no more than $30 per 30-day supply, regardless of whether there is a need for an early refill.
Under HB 1280, families wouldn’t need to meet a deductible for insulin before this price cap takes effect.
Type 1 diabetes is not a disease that can be cured, nor is it one that can be “managed” with diet or exercise. A person with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin, and without insulin a type 1 diabetic cannot convert carbohydrates to energy, and can die if their blood sugar is chronically high. Insulin is not an optional medication for people with type 1 diabetes.
This isn’t the first time Feltes stood up to the insurance lobby on behalf of working families and seniors. Feltes took on the insurance lobby to get coverage for inpatient opioid treatment, with then-Gov. Maggie Hassan signing that into law. Chris Sununu, the current governor, just kowtowed to the insurance lobby and vetoed paid family and medical leave insurance – again. On this insulin price cap, I hope Sununu decides to instead side with Feltes and the families of New Hampshire when the Senate sends this bill to his desk.
EMMA SISTI
Concord