Spread the word, Minnesota offers help to pay for insulin

Minnesotans struggling to pay for insulin can access help from the state.

“We’re coming up on the New Year and if your deductible restarts and it’s a high deductible and you don’t have the $500 or the $1000 or whatever it is, you can use the urgent need program,” said Erika Helvick Anderson, MNsure senior director of public affairs. She is spreading the word about the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program.

Diabetes is a disease affecting 399,700 adults in Minnesota, or 9% of the population. Every single one of those people needs insulin, which isn’t cheap. Prices for a single vial can exceed $300, according to Healthline.

The Alec Smith Act, which created the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program, is named after Alec Smith, a Minnesotan who died because he could not afford his $1300 a month insulin and started to ration it. The program is comprised of two parts: the urgent need program and the continuing need program. 

The urgent need option of the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program provides a month’s supply of insulin for $35. “This is for eligible Minnesotans who have less than a 7-day supply,” Helvick Anderson said.

Reasons to apply for urgent support include instances where insulin has gone bad because of excessive heat or cold. Another example is if an applicant is traveling and left insulin at home or anyone between insurance policies because they changed jobs or other life events.

Minnesotans can use the urgent need program once a year. It is open to residents who have a current prescription for insulin. “You just go to the pharmacy, fill out a form, and the pharmacist will get it over the finish line for you,” explained Helvick Anderson.

The second option, called the continuing need program, gives patients a 90-day supply for $50. The program is a fit for many circumstances. “So, you’re unemployed, or you need your insulin replaced, and your insurance company won’t cover it,” Helvick Anderson added.

Qualifications for the continuing need program, like the short-term option, require the applicant be a Minnesota resident and have a current prescription. Applicants for this second option must also have a family income that is equal to or less than 400% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) income. Minnesotans can apply for the continuing need program annually.

The Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program has been available for about five years, and Helvick Anderson said getting the word out is critical. “If it’s not you, you may know someone struggling to afford insulin.”

To learn more about the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program, including benefits and qualifications, go to: mninsulin.org.