The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2026 is proposed bipartisan legislation that would cap insulin costs at $35 per month for most insured Americans and improve access for people without insurance. The bill was introduced by Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (GA), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Susan Collins (ME), and John Kennedy (LA), and is gaining momentum in Congress across party lines.

The INSULIN Act of 2026 would extend protections, which are currently limited to Medicare beneficiaries, to private and employer-sponsored health care plans. Any plan beginning on or after January 1, 2027 would be required to waive deductibles and limit cost-sharing. Applicable plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2028 would reduce the cost of insulin to no more than $35 /month or 25% of an insulin’s list price - whichever option is less expensive. This applies to at least one insulin of each type (rapid-acting, short-acting, long-acting, etc.) and dosage form (vial, pen, inhaler).

The legislation also targets how insulin is priced behind the scenes. Pharmacy benefit managers would be required to pass through 100% of insulin rebates and discounts to insurance plan sponsors instead of keeping them. This significant shift is intended to reduce incentives tied to higher list prices, increase savings for people with diabetes, and improve transparency.

For uninsured patients, the bill creates a 10-state pilot program allowing community health centers and retail pharmacies to provide affordable insulin—addressing the ongoing problem of insulin rationing caused by cost. The grants are anticipated to be competitive, but several states have attempted to address the insulin cost crisis on their own. California recently capped monthly insulin at $35 and rolled out low-cost CalRx insulin as part of broader affordability efforts.

Other diabetes legislation getting national attention includes the Islet Act. This would reclassify pancreatic islet transplantation from a biological drug to an organ, something we recently dug into in a recent podcast interview with cure expert, Ginger Vieria.

If you want to help push these bills forward, you can contact your senators, show up locally, speak to the media, or join diabetes advocacy campaigns. These efforts are still some of the most effective ways to make an impact. Let us know what you think of the INSULIN Act down in the comments.

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a physician before making changes to your healthcare.