Cigna, Express Scripts unveil new program to cap insulin costs

Insurance giant Cigna and its subsidiary Express Scripts are announcing a new program today to cut the cost of a 30-day supply of insulin from $40, on average, to $25 for many patients. The companies plan to bring about the roughly 40% cost reduction by negotiating with insulin manufacturers, and some may see even greater savings depending on their health plan. The move comes amid increasing public pressure over high insulin costs, and some studies have found that patients struggling to afford the medicine don’t take it as prescribed. Not all patients enrolled in a Cigna or Express Scripts plan will be eligible for the new price, however. Employers who generally purchase health plans will have to approve the change in plan design, and not all of them will.