Measure makes Illinois the largest state to enact such limitations

 

By MONICA SEALS

mseals@morningsentinel.com

 

SPRINGFIELD — While an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour gets the greatest attention for the hundreds of new or amended laws going into effect in the new year, Illinois lawmakers also passed a new law that will help people with life-threatening allergies. 

As of Jan. 1, 2025, Illinois becomes the largest of a list of states to cap the price of epinephrine auto-injectors at $60 for a two-pack of auto-injectors, for insured patients 18 years old and under. 

The state’s new epinephrine price cap law says that insurers cannot charge more than $60 for a set of two auto-injectors for patients 18 years old and under. 

According to the bill’s text, Illinois’ law aims at out-of-pocket costs, which can be more than $600 for the most popular EpiPen auto-injector. The law will require insurers to limit the cost, regardless of the type of epinephrine injector. 

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Illinois House Bill 3639 into law in August of 2023, and it takes effect in January of 2025. 

Illinois is not alone in its efforts to cap epinephrine prices, as Colorado has also passed a measure capping the price of sets of two auto-injectors at $60 for insured patients. The Colorado law, however, includes a program that would offer auto-injectors for $60 for qualified state residents who do not have insurance. 

Fewer hospital admissions are among the factors driving one health insurance provider to act on its own to improve accessibility. As of January 2023, United Healthcare eliminated out-of-pocket costs for epinephrine and other drugs, including insulin and albuterol, under certain plans.  

According to the company, the move is an effort to “help reduce the burden of medical costs on consumers and encourage better medication adherence, reducing the risk of complications and expensive hospitalizations.”