Governor Vetoes Senator Wiener’s Bill Capping the Price of Insulin

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 90, which caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month. The bill had previously passed the Assembly 79-0 and passed the Senate on concurrence 39-0.

“This veto is a major setback that will keep tens of thousands of diabetic Californians trapped in the terrible choice between buying insulin and buying food,” said Senator Wiener. “This is a missed opportunity that will force them to wait months or years for relief from the skyrocketing costs of medical care when they could have had it immediately. We will continue to fight for straightforward, fast-acting measures to lower the costs of essential healthcare, including insulin.”

SB 90 caps the price of insulin at $35 per month for tens of thousands of Californians living with diabetes. The bill bans co-pays over $35 for a 30 day supply and prohibits health plans from imposing a deductible on insulin prescription drugs. For those enrolled under Covered California, these changes begin in 2025 and apply insulins in Tiers 1 and 2.

The price of insulin has tripled over the past decade, with most of the increase going to middlemen and rising corporate profits. As a result of the increase, one in four people using insulin has reported insulin underuse because they can’t afford the full dose. Four in five Americans in need of insulin have incurred thousands of dollars in credit card debt to pay for the medication according to a recent survey.

SB 90 is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Read more about SB 90 here.

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