By Milton Kirby | Washington, D.C. | July 24, 2026
A bipartisan effort to make insulin more affordable for millions of Americans moved one step closer to becoming law this week as legislation led by U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2026 would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for Americans with private health insurance while helping uninsured patients obtain insulin for $35 or less..
The committee approved the measure with bipartisan support, sending it to the full Senate for consideration.
For Georgia, where more than 12 percent of residents have diabetes and thousands more remain undiagnosed, the legislation could provide significant financial relief for families struggling with the rising cost of one of the nation’s most essential medications.
Expanding Affordable Insulin Beyond Medicare
The legislation builds on a major healthcare victory achieved in 2022, when Congress capped monthly insulin costs at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Warnock has since worked to extend those protections to every American who depends on insulin, regardless of age or insurance status.
“After years of effort, my bill to cap insulin at $35 a month for everyone is one step closer to becoming law,” Warnock said after the committee vote.
“No one should be forced to put their health or life in danger because they can’t afford insulin or don’t know where to get it.”
If enacted, the INSULIN Act would apply the same $35 monthly out-of-pocket limit to Americans covered by private insurance, closing one of the largest remaining gaps in insulin affordability.
New Resources for Uninsured Patients
The legislation also addresses the needs of Americans without health insurance.
A provision negotiated by Warnock would establish a 10-state pilot grant program that provides funding to community health centers to supply affordable insulin while connecting uninsured patients with ongoing medical care.
The bill would also create a nationalinsulin resource center and hotline to help uninsured individuals locate affordable insulin programs, financial assistance, and healthcare providers.
Supporters say the additional resources recognize that affordability alone is not enough. Many patients also need help finding available programs and navigating the healthcare system.
Rising Costs Continue to Burden Families
The legislation comes as insulin prices remain a significant financial challenge for many Americans.
According to the Health Care Cost Institute, the average price of a 30-day insulin supply nearly doubled between 2012 and 2021, increasing from $271 to $499.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that diabetes-related medical expenses and lost productivity total$412.9 billion each year, with diabetes accounting for one out of every four healthcare dollars spent in the United States.
For patients with Type 1 diabetes and many living with Type 2 diabetes, insulin is not optional. Without consistent access, missed doses can quickly lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications.
Years of Legislative Effort
Making insulin more affordable has been one of Warnock’s signature healthcare priorities since joining the Senate.
In 2023, Warnock partnered with Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana to introduce legislation extending the $35 monthly cap to all Americans. The two senators also released a report identifying what they called “Insulin Deserts,” counties where high diabetes rates overlap with large uninsured populations, making affordable insulin especially difficult to obtain.
The current legislation represents the latest step in that continuing effort.
Bipartisan Support Gives Bill Momentum
The INSULIN Act is co-led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Susan Collins of Maine and has attracted support from more than two dozen Democratic, Republican, and Independent senators.
At a time when healthcare legislation often divides Congress, supporters say the broad bipartisan coalition reflects growing agreement that access to lifesaving insulin should not depend on a family’s financial circumstances.
What Comes Next
The INSULIN Act now advances to the full Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to send the measure to the House of Representatives.
If ultimately approved by Congress and signed into law, the legislation would represent the most significant expansion of federal insulin affordability protections since the Medicare cap took effect in 2022.
For millions of Americans living with diabetes, supporters say the bill is about more than lowering prescription costs.
It is about ensuring that no one is forced to choose between paying their bills and obtaining the medication they need to stay alive.