Out-of-Pocket Spending for Insulin by Medicare Beneficiaries After Monthly Caps

In an interrupted time-series analysis of 4.8 million Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes from 2019-2023, implementation of a $35 monthly insulin out-of-pocket cap was associated with substantial declines in insulin out-of-pocket spending, modest increases in insulin use, and decreases in patient blood glucose levels. These findings suggest that federal cost-sharing caps can meaningfully improve patient access and adherence to essential medicines like insulin for patients with chronic conditions.