Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
•••
When my son Alec passed away after rationing his insulin, my world shattered.
Alec, like many people with diabetes, found himself stuck in a cycle of soaring insulin prices. With insurance, he was paying hundreds of dollars monthly for insulin. Without insurance, the cost of that monthly supply jumped to $1,300. The sky-high price forced Alec to stretch out his doses, and less than a week later, he died from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Tragically, Alec wasn’t alone. As I shared his story with local news stations and reached out through social media, I was flooded with responses from others in similar situations — people rationing insulin, resorting to desperate measures to survive. I learned of individuals traveling to Canada or Mexico to buy insulin more affordably or meeting strangers in back alleys to exchange lifesaving supplies. It was a heartbreaking realization: Alec’s death was part of a much larger crisis.
When state Sen. Erin Murphy, herself a nurse, heard Alec’s story, she reached out. She wanted to help, and together we discussed the importance of an emergency insulin affordability program that could prevent future deaths due to rationing. In testimony before Minnesota’s Health and Human Services Committee, I shared Alec’s story, and the support was overwhelming. Sen. Michael Howard also stepped forward, motivated to make a difference as he ran for office. Working alongside Gov. Tim Walz, they championed what would become the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, turning a vision into reality.
The legislation established the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program, which has since provided relief to countless Minnesotans. The program allows individuals in need of insulin to access a 30-day emergency supply through their pharmacy and, more importantly, gives them a path to longer-term assistance. The continuing-need branch of the program allows eligible Minnesotans who cannot afford their insulin on an ongoing basis to receive a 90-day supply for no more than $50.
As we approach the new year, the need for this program is particularly high. Individuals with high-deductible health insurance plans may face hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed insulin in the first several months of the year. The Insulin Safety Net Program can be a lifeline, helping them afford insulin before they meet their deductible.
