California Becomes 29th State to Cap Insulin Costs

During the week of October 14, 2025, California became the 29th U.S. state to pass an insulin price cap bill. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 40 (SB 40), which limits insulin cost-sharing to $35 for a 30-day supply. This means people with diabetes (PWD) with state-regulated insurance plans will not pay more than $35 at the pharmacy counter when picking up their monthly insulin supply.

Who Benefits from the Bill?

State-regulated insurance plans differ by state and may include many employer-sponsored health coverage, individual and small-group marketplace plans, and some state employee plans. Reports from the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) indicate that out of the 22.2 million Californians enrolled in state-regulated health insurance, 13.57 million would be covered under SB 40.

Because price caps like this and health insurance plan regulations vary greatly by state, it’s important to do some research to see if you will benefit.

Who does not benefit? California’s insulin copay cap does not include PWD who use Medi-Cal, the state’s program for lower-income residents. This is because Medi-Cal is managed by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which is exempt from the law.

Under SB 40, large group health insurers will be required to limit insulin copays to $35 starting in 2026. In 2027, the same requirement will apply to individual and small group insurers. The bill also bans private health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from charging deductibles on prescription insulin.

What States Have Insulin Price Caps?

In addition to California, the following states and the District of Columbia have passed bills to cap the cost of insulin:

• Alabama
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

Copay price caps vary by state, with some offering copay caps on diabetes devices and supplies in addition to insulin. Some states, like New York, have passed bills to provide a $0 copay for a 30-day supply of insulin, while others, like Delaware, offer a $100 copay. 

Among states with insulin price caps, specific eligibility criteria vary. For example, some state insulin copay caps apply to people with and without insurance, while others apply only to those with insurance. 

Other Insulin Cost-Saving Options

Some insulin manufacturers have launched cost-saving programs at the pharmacy counter to support uninsured individuals. Eligibility for insulin cost-saving programs and opportunities varies by manufacturer. Each company provides additional information about their cost-saving programs on their respective websites. 

Copay cards that meet your specific needs can also be found at GetInsulin.org.

The Future of Insulin Price Caps in the U.S.

The ADA reports that the total annual cost of diabetes in the U.S. was $412.9 billion in 2022, a staggering number that includes direct medical costs and indirect costs like lost productivity or even premature death. 

Healthcare costs are 2.6 times higher for the average individual with diabetes than they are for people without. From 2012 to 2022, spending on insulin tripled due to annual list price increases, the shift towards newer, more expensive analog insulins, and the complex pharmaceutical pricing system.

While price caps on insulin do not address the issue for all PWD across states, they do benefit some individuals. Although insulin price caps are a step forward for those with insurance, it is important to recognize that further progress is needed to support insulin-dependent underinsured and uninsured populations.