Illinois House committee members revisit cost of insulin

Posted on March 12, 2021
Nicole Smith-Holt spoke during a Illinois House committee meeting. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – As members of an Illinois House committee revisited the cost of insulin, a Minnesota mom told them her sad story.

“In June of 2017, my 26-year-old Type I (diabetic) son, Alex Smith, aged off of my health insurance,” said Nicole Smith-Holt, “and, without my knowledge, was unable to afford his insulin and began rationing.”

In a short time, the effects led him to call in sick to work, and he was dead within 24 hours.

The new law in Illinois caps out-of-pocket costs in state-regulated plans at $100 per month for insulin; State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) said that “ceiling” had effectively become a “floor,” with $100 or thereabouts being a fairly common cost for insulin-dependent diabetics.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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