Why is Insulin Still so Expensive?

A study published this month in the journal Health Affairs found that 14% of people who use insulin in the U.S. face what is described as a “catastrophic” level of spending on the medication, meaning that after paying for other essentials, such as food and housing, they spend at least 40% of their remaining income on insulin. But why does insulin — a medication that’s been around for more than 100 years — remain unaffordable for many people in the U.S.? The high cost can be attributed in part to “evergreening,” a process in which drug companies make incremental improvements to their products that can extend the life of their patents. Read more from NBC News here.