Systemic underinsurance and corporate pricing power drive insulin non-adherence in type 2 diabetes, study reveals structural barriers to care
Original framing: “If you cap insulin at $35 a month, people with type 2 diabetes stick to treatment, study finds” — STAT News
The piece situates insulin non‑adherence within a historical arc of pharmaceutical consolidation, patent extensions, and the rise of pharmacy benefit managers over several decades. It links these long‑term market dynamics to present‑day pricing power, showing how past policy choices shape current barriers. This historical framing is fairly robust, though it could be deepened with earlier public‑health milestones.
By weaving historical market consolidation, scientific evidence of adherence gaps, and the lived realities of underinsured patients, the analysis reveals that insulin non‑adherence is a systemic failure rather than a simple pricing problem.
Future‑oriented reforms—transparent PBM oversight, universal coverage, and patent reform—must be coupled with culturally grounded community support to address both economic and relational dimensions of care. While Indigenous, artistic, and trickster perspectives are currently under‑represented, integrating them can surface hidden power dynamics and inspire more holistic, equitable solutions.