ATLANTA — Nearly a million Georgians suffer from diabetes and insulin is expensive, even with insurance, but a US senator said he has a plan that could possibly lower the cost of insulin.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was at the state capitol Monday.
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock is working on a bill that would lower the cost per month to $35.
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He sat with healthcare professionals, including a doctor at Grady Hospital. People with Medicaid get insulin for about $2 a month, but people with insurance have to pay full price--and that price has gone up to $200 to $300, or more, a month.
“We’re talking about people that have insurance. A lot of folks on Medicaid find themselves, they get to this doughnut hole in coverage and they can’t afford it,” Warnock said. “If you need insulin, you need insulin. It’s not optional.”
One woman, Mutima Jackson-Anderson, sat with Senator Warnock downtown to talk about his bill to cap the cost of insulin.
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Anderson said she has a family history of diabetes. Her mother, Ruby Neeson, a former Atlanta school teacher, battled type-two diabetes for 10 years before dying from the illness.
“She experienced issues with her vision, her kidneys and eventually, she did have to have an amputation,” Anderson said.
Anderson said she started a diabetes awareness foundation in her mother’s name and she supports the legislation in her mother’s memory.
Anderson said those who can’t afford it will sometimes ration their meds and decide between buying food, paying bills or taking lifesaving medication.
“People want to live. They want to live healthy and be happy and that will provide them the support to do that,” Anderson said.
This price drop is something that could help many families.
The bill could get voted on before Memorial Day.
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