A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning insurance.
Summary
SB 150 would require insurers to cap an insured person’s out-of-pocket cost for prescription insulin drugs at no more than $35 for a 30-day supply. The cap applies regardless of how many insulin prescriptions or different insulin types are filled during that 30-day period, and insurers may choose to charge less than the cap. The bill defines “prescription insulin drug” as a medically necessary prescription drug containing insulin used to treat diabetes.
The bill applies to health insurance plans issued, delivered, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2026, and it is set to take effect July 1, 2026. It also includes a safeguard for high deductible health plans: if the insulin cost-sharing cap would cause a plan to lose its federal high deductible status under the Internal Revenue Code, the cap does not apply to the extent needed to preserve that status.
Impact
SB 150 would amend Indiana Code chapter 27-8-14.5 by adding a new definition of prescription insulin drug and a new cost-sharing requirement for health insurers. In practical terms, it would limit the amount insured individuals pay at the pharmacy for insulin, shifting more of the cost burden to insurers and potentially affecting plan design, premiums, and cost-sharing structures for diabetes treatment. The bill would apply to most new, amended, or renewed health insurance plans after the effective date, while carving out limited relief for plans that must preserve federal high deductible health plan status.
Sentiment
The available context shows no recorded committee discussion or votes, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the legislative record provided. Based on the bill’s subject matter, the measure appears to be a consumer-protection and affordability proposal aimed at reducing the financial burden of insulin for people with diabetes. The absence of recorded debate makes the overall sentiment difficult to gauge beyond the bill’s clear policy intent.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the balance between lowering insulin costs for patients and preserving insurer flexibility, premium stability, and federal tax-advantaged high deductible health plan status. Insurers and employers may be concerned about mandated cost-sharing limits and the effect on plan pricing, while patient advocates and diabetes stakeholders are likely to support the cap as a way to improve access and affordability. The bill’s explicit exception for high deductible health plans suggests lawmakers anticipated possible conflict with federal tax rules and plan qualification requirements.