Health policy
North Dakota caps patients’ insulin costs at $25 a month
The cap limits out-of-pocket insulin costs to $25 a month for patients in health plans regulated by North Dakota.
North Dakota enacted a bipartisan law capping patients’ out-of-pocket insulin costs at $25 a month, according to NPR and KFF Health News. The measure, co-sponsored by Republican state Sen. Sean Cleary, applies to health plans regulated by the state. About a fifth of the estimated 40 million Americans with diabetes depend on insulin.
The cap does not cover every plan. Insurance provided by larger employers is typically regulated by the federal government, the reports said. Average yearly out-of-pocket costs for people with private insurance declined to $220 in 2025, from $470 a year in 2018, according to federal data cited in the reports. The state bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Congress is considering a national insulin cap, with North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer among its bipartisan co-sponsors.
