(BPT) - Some people with diabetes in the U.S. face increasingly high out-of-pocket costs for insulin, a medicine that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and allows cells to use and store sugar for energy. Some people are confronted with difficult financial choices and healthcare consequences that can prove dire. Some even ration their insulin to offset costs, which can be dangerous.
In response to the struggles people with diabetes face, Eli Lilly and Company, a major insulin manufacturer, is offering several new solutions to lower and cap monthly out-of-pocket costs for people who pay at or near full list price because of their insurance designs, including the launch of a new helpline. The Lilly Diabetes Solution Center provides real answers to people who need help paying for their insulin.
People who call the helpline at 833-808-1234 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday) will find experienced representatives who will review the individual circumstances and identify immediate and longer-term options to help them pay for their Lilly insulin. Some of the options are being offered for the first time by Lilly.
These solutions primarily apply to those who pay the highest prices for their insulin, such as the uninsured and those still paying a deductible on their high-deductible insurance plans. Support is available in English, Spanish and several other languages.
“We don’t want anyone to have to pay full list price for their insulin, and many people who do will be able to pay significantly less by calling our helpline,” says Mike Mason, Lilly senior vice president, Connected Care and Insulins, noting that diabetes often requires multiple treatments and supplies.
“Our goal is to ensure that people paying high out-of-pocket costs for Lilly insulins are matched with the best solution available to reduce their financial burden and help ensure they receive the treatment they need,” Mason explains.
The solutions recommended by representatives will vary depending on each person’s circumstances. Lilly is offering several options to help people, including ways to save money on insulin purchased at the pharmacy, how to access insulin through free clinics, and support for immediate needs. Out-of-pocket costs for people who use traditional co-pay or co-insurance plans will continue to be set by their health insurer.
Based on estimates from market research data, more than 400,000 people living with diabetes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico could benefit from the helpline.
As a global leader in diabetes care for nearly a century, Lilly is committed to finding solutions, such as those offered through the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center, to make prescription drugs more affordable for all people with diabetes.
“We encourage people who pay at or near full list price for insulin, and those who don’t have the financial means to afford the costs they face, to call the helpline,” says Lilly’s Mason.
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