INSULIN Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill caps what privately insured patients pay for insulin at $35 per 30-day supply starting in 2027, and eliminates deductibles for insulin entirely. By 2028, the cap drops further to the lesser of $35 or 25% of the net negotiated price, meaning patients could pay even less if insurers get good deals from manufacturers.
• Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) would be required to pass 100% of all rebates, discounts, and fees from insulin manufacturers directly to health plans, ending the practice of PBMs pocketing a share of these savings. All payments must be disclosed and made available for annual audits.
• A $100 million, 5-year pilot program would provide grants to 10 states with high rates of uninsured and diabetic residents, funding low-cost insulin access through community health centers and retail pharmacies. The bill also creates a 24/7 national hotline and resource center to help uninsured individuals find affordable insulin.
• The bill speeds up approval of biosimilar (generic-equivalent) insulin products by creating a new "competitive biosimilar therapy" fast-track designation when fewer than three biosimilars exist for a given product. It also cracks down on brand-name companies that file sham citizen petitions to delay generic competition.
• The bill has strong bipartisan support, introduced by Shaheen with 11 cosponsors from both parties including Collins, Grassley, Murkowski, Warnock, Kennedy, and Tuberville. It covers group health plans, individual insurance, ERISA-governed employer plans, and even catastrophic plans under the ACA.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.