Insulin Costs and Use by Medicare Beneficiaries After the Inflation Reduction Act Out-of-Pocket Cap

Was the Inflation Reduction Act’s insulin out-of-pocket cap for Medicare beneficiaries associated with changes in insulin cost and use?After the out-of-pocket cap took effect in 2023, insulin users with Medicare Part D experienced a 21% decrease in insulin out-of-pocket costs per 30-day supply and 48% decrease in cost range relative to 2021-2022. Insulin users with high baseline out-of-pocket cost experienced larger changes in insulin cost and increases in insulin use (fills, adherence, and persistence).The cap was associated with lower and more stable insulin out-of-pocket costs and with increased insulin use among people with previously high cost.

Corresponding Author: Rebecca Myerson, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1534 Clifton Rd NE, Grace Crum Rollins Building (GCR) 658, Atlanta, GA 30322 (Rebecca.myerson@emory.edu).

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