Thread by @lollydaggle

The future of insulin prices in this country, a thread.

More states will pass bills like Colorado's where the price IS NOT CAPPED but insurers will absorb cost difference so that co-pay relief will happen for those on private insurance.

We'll get to a critical mass like with the Affordable Care Act where, yes, not everyone is impacted by these co-pay relief bills but it's enough relief for most people.

Meanwhile, because we haven't actually addressed the price or taken power away from the pharmaceutical companies (or any other players in this game), the PRICE of insulin will continue to rise.

And, throughout this time, advocacy will essentially halt because this all feels like a win and most people "have theirs."

Organizations will drop out and focus on more dire issues in other countries or patients with other diseases suffering from oppression of their own. 👈 All good things, don't get me wrong.

Because, insulin prices continue to rise, the most marginalized who are not impacted by co-pay relief, people on Medicare, Medicaid and those who are uninsured, will continue to feel the full brunt of prices. The most marginalized folks will continue to ration insulin and die.

Those who do have co-pay relief, will, after a few years, notice that they are feeling the financial constraints of high insulin prices elsewhere. Either through higher premiums, restricted access to insurance, threat of ACA repeal or repeal of these co-pay bills.

Once again, it'll take years for privileged, wealthy folks and people with insurance to be convinced that insulin prices are still a fucking issue. And, once again, it'll be because people are feeling the pressure themselves. Not because they care about others.

Any progress that does not take power away from pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy benefit managers and insurers will never be anything more than a temporary stop gap at best. At worst, it hinders real change.

We've seen similar patterns with the Affordable Care Act and Medicare for All. Where the ACA was one of the best things to happen for health care in this country but because it didn't ultimately take power away from the industry, it's been whittled and destroyed over time.

All while we could have and should have been doubling down on our efforts for Medicare For All.

In the fight for #Insulin4All and ensuring ALL people with diabetes have access to insulin, a substance they need as much as water, we must be hard lined for a solution that takes power. In my mind, that's ACTUAL federal price caps or single payer.

The only thing certain in this crystal ball is that people like @Kidfears99 will still be keeping it real and fighting for real, systemic change. The question is, will you?