Program to Reduce Insulin Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries Has Cut Spending, Improved Diabetes Care

For Release

MondaySeptember 22, 2025

A three-year effort to reduce the cost of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries has achieved its primary goals, lowering out-of-pocket costs for the medication and increasing enrollees' regular use of insulin, according to a new RAND report (PDF).

The program also decreased costs for the federal government, with drug manufacturers increasing rebate and coverage gap payments.

But the program also had some unanticipated results, including increased drug insurance costs for Medicare beneficiaries who do not use insulin.