With the pandemic, the rising unemployment rates, and the failing economy, money is no longer quite easy to find. While the rich can still sit comfortably in their homes and know that their future is still intact, those in the middle and lower class have tons of worries to deal with.
Hence, getting sick isn’t easy. Doctor visits and medications can also take a toll on their savings. The worst part is that not everyone has health insurance. They have to take care of their health by digging deep into their pockets, and that’s not always possible.
For instance, people who suffer from diabetes need to see where and how they can get their next insulin shot. Otherwise, they get sick, or worse, they may die from lack of care. That’s why philanthropists and big corporations are now putting their heads to come up with a better plan to those who need help. Walmart may have the answer to this, and while it’s not free, the affordable medicines can and will make a big difference for them.
With the community in mind, Walmart is working hard at bringing “everyday low prices” to medical care. They made an announcement to the public about the launch of a version of insulin that will be less expensive to those who do not receive health insurance or those who are short in cash and are struggling to make ends meet especially when they also need to buy life-saving drugs as part of their needs.
Walmart released a statement just this week and said, “These products will save customers between 58% to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin products, which translates to a savings of up to $101 per branded vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens.”
Just this week, Walmart will be selling its own private-label version of analog insulin, which is the later and more reliable form of the drug. This will be made available to anyone who has a doctor’s prescription. They call the insulin drug ReliOn NovoLog, and this will be made available at Sam’s Club by middle of July as well.
The said insulin will sell for around $73 per vial or around $86 for a package. This are pre-filled insulin pens for those who need it. Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of Walmart Health & Wellness said, “We know many people with diabetes struggle to manage the financial burden of this condition, and we are focused on helping by providing affordable solutions. We also know this is a condition that disproportionately impacts underserved populations.”
The doctor also added, “With ReliOn NovoLog insulin, we’re adding a high-quality medication for diabetes to the already affordable ReliOn line of products and continuing our commitment to improve access and lowering cost of care.”
The ReliOn products include private label, lower priced alternatives to blood glucose monitors, lancets, and other diabetes management essentials. As reported by CNBC, US lawmakers have closely looked into diabetes drug companies before. They scrutinized companies such as like Eli Lilly and the French company Sanofi. They questioned why they were increasing prices over the last two decades, which led Sanofi to roll-out a limited price reduction program.
As for Walmart, the popular conglomerate worked directly with manufacturer Novo Nordisk for them to reduce the costs of the medicines. Dr. Pegus further explained, “This price point, we hope, will improve and hopefully revolutionize the accessibility and affordability of insulin.”
Now, those who suffer from diabetes have a cheaper and equally reliable option for the medicine that they will badly need.
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