This letter features reporting from “How Much Does It Really Cost To Produce Insulin?” by Alicia Tovar, Fabiola Torres, and Pamela Huerta

Dear Governor Lamont,

In their article, “How Much Does It Really Cost To Produce Insulin?,” authors Alicia Tovar, Fabiola Torres, and Pamela Huerta highlight the global issue of the overpricing of insulin. They report that just three drug manufacturing companies control 90% of the global insulin market, dominating the field and ensuring, through patents, that other manufacturers cannot replicate their product. Because they have so little competition, these companies can mark up their products as high as they please. 

The high prices of insulin have very little to do with the manufacturing cost, however. A study cited in the article found that the production cost of insulin is significantly lower than its current market prices. This issue is not specific to insulin. Other drug companies are able to do the same thing: mark up their drugs beyond what most people can afford out of pocket, simply because they can. Prescription drug costs, for example, are significantly higher in the U.S. than in other comparable countries: 256% of the price of drugs in 32 other countries, in fact, according to a study conducted by the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. 

Connecticut is the 10th wealthiest state in the U.S., and in fact, in 2019 it had the highest per capita income in the entire country. Despite the state’s wealth, however, a statement released by the Connecticut Office of Health and Strategy reported that according to the Connecticut Health Affordability Index, in 2022, 13% of working age households couldn't afford their medications, and around 23% skipped doses of their medication or took other measures to cut healthcare costs. The reason people can’t afford their medication is because pharmaceutical companies get away with upselling their products. Can you blame them though? After all, this is capitalist America, where margin of profit is synonymous with margin of success; profits are prioritized and ethics are put on the back burner. Drug companies are looking to sell their products for the highest price the market will bear, just like any other company selling any other product. The only difference is that people won’t die if they can’t afford a new perfume from Sephora, but they will if they can’t afford a medicine that keeps their heart beating. 

As someone who has family in Tennessee, the 10th poorest state in the country, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people can’t afford the care they need. People break up their pills, or go days without taking them, because they can’t afford their next bottle until payday, which leads to even more health issues, and even more medical expenses. I have seen people actively avoid going to the doctor because they worry about how much it will cost them, and I have seen people die because they can't justify spending an exorbitant amount of money on medical care. Although we may differ significantly in states such as Tennessee in terms of GDP and access to adequate healthcare, this issue is prevalent throughout the nation.

This simply isn’t the case in other countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, companies must negotiate the price with the National Health Service (NHS) in order to sell their product, which ensures that the drug will be sold at a fair and affordable cost for patients and their families. Although there is no such institution as the NHS in the US, there are other possible solutions to this problem.

Former President Biden and former Vice President Harris have begun to get at this issue with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Medicare Price Negotiation Act. In this legislation, their administration capped the price of insulin and worked with manufacturers to lower the cost of drugs provided through Medicare. In her statement on the Medicare Price Negotiation Act, Harris noted that this work “will be life changing for so many of our loved ones across the nation.”

I am aware that in Connecticut, you have already passed legislation addressing this issue. I am also aware that this is not an easy issue to fix, as you noted in your address: “This is a complex issue that needs to be tackled from multiple angles and we need the involvement of all parties—insurers, hospitals, doctors, employers, and consumers—in this effort to provide real solutions to lower health care costs.” That being said, more legislation addressing healthcare costs in Connecticut will change lives, and I truly believe that it is worth every ounce of hard work spent. As the governor of Connecticut, I urge you to continue to support and pass legislation that will aid in lowering the costs of prescription drugs and healthcare for your constituents. 

Sincerely,
Maggie Alford


Maggie Alford is a junior at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut. She is very interested in medical sciences and is part of a program at her school specifically focused on learning techniques for research science. She is planning on interning at a research lab over the summer through this program. She is also a member of the Varsity Swim Team and has been involved with the Hopkins Against Gun Violence club. Additionally, she is a peer minister at her church, where she teaches classes and leads retreats, as well as a lifeguard at her local YMCA. In her free time Maggie enjoys spending time with friends and visiting new places. Maggie is very passionate about medicine and advocating for affordable healthcare, which is why she is so grateful to be able to share her perspective on this topic.

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