At Ferraro Law, we recognize the significant toll artificially inflated insulin prices have placed on insulin users, self-funded health plans, local governments, and other payors overseeing prescription drug coverage. For millions needing life-saving insulin to manage diabetes, the rising price of insulin has become a dire financial crisis. While human insulin was discovered over a century ago with relatively low production costs, insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have allegedly conspired to push insulin costs ever higher—often without any meaningful improvement in the insulin drug itself. Through a coordinated insulin pricing scheme, these parties reap lucrative net sales at the expense of patients, self-funded healthcare plans, and entire communities.
Understanding Insulin Price-Fixing & Its Impact
Understanding Insulin Price-Fixing & Its Impact
Insulin is a life-saving medication essential for millions living with diabetes. Yet, drug makers like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) such as Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, and OptumRx—have faced insulin overpricing lawsuits. Opponents say these manufacturers and pharmacy benefit entities exploit unfair trade practices by manipulating drugs’ list prices, forcing payors to shoulder inflated bills. This insulin pricing lawsuit wave has spread across the country, forming a spotlight on the diabetes epidemic and how the insulin market has become a venue for artificially inflated prices.
A Broken System: Who Pays the Price?
The high cost of insulin doesn’t just impact patients—it places an enormous financial burden on self-funded health plans, municipalities, and other healthcare payors tasked with covering prescription drug costs. As lawsuits continue to expose how insulin prices have been artificially inflated through rebate schemes and market manipulation, the true scale of the financial damage is becoming clear.
Unfair pricing has cost self-funded payers billions
Since the 1990s, insulin prices in the U.S. have increased by over 1,000% despite production costs remaining low.
The same types of insulin that were affordable decades ago now cost hundreds of dollars per vial.
Insulin manufacturers and PBMs are under investigation for price-fixing
Three insulin manufacturers—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—control 90% of the global insulin market.
The three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark Rx, Express Scripts, and OptumRx—acting as middlemen between manufacturers and health plans, established a rebate structure that incentivizes higher list prices for insulin. By prioritizing drugs with substantial rebates from manufacturers, PBMs favored more expensive insulin products, leading to increased costs for payers.
In January 2021, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a comprehensive report following a two-year bipartisan investigation into the escalating prices of insulin. Among the key findings of the investigation, the Committee found that insulin manufacturers had markedly increased the list prices of their insulin products without significant advancements in the drugs’ efficacy. For instance, Eli Lilly’s Humalog saw its price surge from $35 in 2001 to $234 in 2015, a 585% increase.
Recover damages and help drive industry-wide reform
Reimbursements & Past Overcharges
Our lawsuits seek to recover the difference between fair insulin pricing and the inflated rates from PBM-manufacturer negotiations.
Future Cost Protections
By demanding injunctive relief, our lawsuits aim to curb further life-saving medication markups, mitigating future financial harm for payors and retaining patients’ crucial access to insulin.
Punitive Damages
When evidence shows pharmaceutical companies or PBMs knowingly exploited unfair trade practices, courts may award punitive damages to penalize the behavior and prevent repeated misconduct.
40 Years of Fierce Representation
40 Years of Fierce Representation
For decades, Ferraro Law has fought large-scale corporate misconduct in cases involving opioid epidemic suits, drug prices claims, and other mass tort or multidistrict litigation proceedings. We stand at the forefront of the insulin price fixing lawsuit, using our investigative tools to uncover how pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers artificially mark up insulin. From analyzing list price spikes to exposing unjust enrichment and fraudulent rebate structures, our attorneys strive to return taxpayer funds and plan resources to those who truly need them—so effective treatments remain accessible for patients.
Parties Involved & Relevant Regulatory Angles
● Insulin Manufacturers :
(e.g., Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi) accused of collaborating with PBMs to hike insulin costs far beyond production costs.
● PBMs :
(e.g., Express Scripts) that negotiate drug prices and rebates in ways that inflate net margins for both parties.
● Local Governments & Self-Funded Plans :
Bearing the fallout of insulin overpricing, were forced to redirect critical funds to cover employees or beneficiaries with diabetes.
● Federal Trade Commission (FTC) & state attorney generals :
Track investigating whether these manufacturers and PBMs have violated antitrust or consumer protection statutes, fueling insulin overpricing.
Our longstanding experience in holding pharmaceutical companies accountable equips us to tackle the complex litigation around drug makers’ alleged collusion—recovering overcharged sums and reclaiming taxpayer funds.
How We Can Help You
How We Can Help You
Assessment & Consultation
We begin with a free consultation—examining your self-funded payer track or insurance plan’s insulin spending, the suspected degree of unfair trade practices, and evidence of inflated charges. Whether you represent a public entity, large employer, or union-led plan, we customize our approach to your needs, verifying if you qualify to join insulin overpricing lawsuits or proceed independently.
Tailored Legal Strategies
No two insulin pricing litigation cases are identical. Our attorneys diligently investigate manufacturer-PBM relationships, internal communications, and the drug’s list price changes over time. By leveraging legal claims like RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations), antitrust violations, or consumer fraud, we position your insulin price-fixing lawsuit to stand strong. We also coordinate with multiple law firms across the country, aligning strategies in potential multidistrict litigation to maximize your chances of success.
Ongoing Support & Communication
From filing an insulin pricing lawsuit to guiding self-funded plans or local governments through motions, Ferraro Law keeps you informed—whether updates revolve around pending approval for class certifications, settlement negotiations, or new parties involved. Our priority is pursuing lost funds while forcing changes in how insulin is priced and sold.
What We Handle
What We Handle
Ferraro Law represents clients across a wide spectrum of insulin price-fixing cases and related financial harm scenarios. Our firm represents self-funded payers, including employers, unions, and other organizations managing their own health benefits.
If you are a self-funded payer of health insurance who has contracted with CVS, Express Scripts, or OptumRx for PBM services, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Insulin Overpricing Lawsuits
We initiate or join suits for insulin payors—whether government or private—alleging artificially inflated pricing orchestrated by insulin manufacturers and PBMs.
Self-Funded Healthcare Plans’ Claims
We’re standing up for self-funded health plans forced to pay beyond the fair market for diabetes medications, thereby harming participants and undermining plan finances.
Government & Municipal Plaintiffs
We represent counties, cities, and states seeking to recoup taxpayer funds spent on insulin for public employees, retirees, or Medicaid recipients.
Non-Profit Organizations & Private Entities
Ferraro Law works with charities, union health trusts, or large employers that suspect drug prices for insulin have soared due to manufacturers and pharmacy benefit collusion.
Deciding Whether to Pursue an Insulin Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Deciding Whether to Pursue an Insulin Price-Fixing Lawsuit
If your organization foots the bill for insulin via prescription coverage and you’ve noticed steep cost increases unexplained by production costs or standard inflation, you may be a candidate to join insulin overpricing lawsuits. Without skilled legal team support, identifying wrongdoing in complicated manufacturer-PBM arrangements can be daunting. At Ferraro Law, we combine decades of mass litigation success with targeted knowledge of how manufacturers and PBMs manipulate insulin markets—empowering you to challenge drug makers and pursue financial redress.
Insulin Overpricing: Compensation for Victims
Insulin Overpricing: Compensation for Victims
A successful insulin price-fixing claim can provide essential financial support to help victims and their families manage the long-term impact of inflated insulin costs.
Compensation may cover:
Reimbursements & Past Overcharges
Lawsuits seek to recover funds wasted on artificially inflated insulin. This can involve returning the difference between fair insulin pricing and the inflated rates from PBM-manufacturer negotiations.
Future Cost Protections
By demanding injunctive relief, lawsuits aim to curb further life-saving medication markups, mitigating future financial harm for payors and retaining patient’s crucial access to insulin.
Punitive Damages
When evidence shows pharmaceutical companies or PBMs knowingly exploited unfair trade practices, courts may award punitive damages to penalize the behavior and prevent repeated misconduct.
Structural Reform
Legal actions can enforce new policies—like transparent list price structures or mandatory patient assistance program expansions—thus reigning in the insulin pricing scheme.
What to Look for in an Insulin Price-Fixing Lawyer
What to Look for in an Insulin Price-Fixing Lawyer
Selecting an attorney for an insulin price-fixing case is a crucial decision. As you evaluate potential counsel, consider:
Experience in Complex Litigation & Mass Torts
Seek counsel with a proven track record in large-scale suits—like opioid or pharmaceutical claims—capable of dissecting rebate frameworks, PBM deals, and hidden drug prices.
Empathy & Communication
Organizations navigating insulin overcharges deserve clear explanations, timely updates, and unwavering support from attorneys who truly understand the stakes and the diabetes epidemic gravity.
Robust Expert & Investigative Networks
Ties to financial analysts, healthcare economists, and industry insiders are vital. They can reveal how insulin market manipulations undermine consumer goods fairness, fueling strong claims.
Documented Success
Look for law firms that have tackled major corporate defendants, negotiated significant settlements, or secured judgments in pricing or antitrust disputes. This means they can manage complex legal action effectively.
What to Expect When You Partner with Ferraro Law
What to Expect When You Partner with Ferraro Law
Partnering with Ferraro Law means you’ll have an experienced legal team on your side, one that provides personalized guidance, clear communication, and strategic advocacy to help you pursue the best potential outcome for your case.
Whether you represent a self-funded payer track, a city struggling with health insurance costs, or a labor union’s plan, we tailor solutions to your unique coverage data and budgetary constraints.
From analyzing PBM contracting patterns to investigating insulin drug markups, our attorneys remain at the forefront of insulin legal trends. We monitor the status of any federal trade commission or state attorney general track actions.
If manufacturers like Eli Lilly propose monetary damages or settlement, we evaluate if it fairly compensates your plan’s overpayments and addresses future cost increases. Otherwise, we advance your case to trial.
Operating on contingency, Ferraro Law only collects fees upon successful recovery—allowing your plan to concentrate on providing effective treatments for beneficiaries.
We keep you apprised of relevant legislation, pending motions, or multidistrict litigation proceedings. Our lawyers break down the technical aspects of the insulin pricing lawsuit for clarity.
Headquartered in Florida and active in large-scale suits nationwide, Ferraro Law unites big-firm capacity with personalized focus, so that every client receives exceptional counsel.
Our experience and compassionate approach is what makes us one of the top firms handling insulin price-fixing cases in the country. We never want you to feel lost in a massive bureaucracy—our goal is to provide the support and dedicated representation you need during this challenging time.
Client Experiences
Client Experiences
From local governments to union-backed self-funded healthcare plans, many turn to Ferraro Law seeking relief from the burden of crippling insulin overcharges that strain budgets and jeopardize the health of plan members. Our clients commend our methodical investigations, which connect inflated drug pricing data with PBM-manufacturer interactions, as well as our determination in pursuing justice through negotiations or court proceedings.
“You not only told us it was going to be okay, you showed us that it’s going to be okay.”
SUZANNE
ASBESTOS & MESOTHELIOMA
My father passed away from mesothelioma and The Ferraro Law Firm has been there for me and my family for over 10 years. Our attorney, Aleksandra Sikorska, and Nestor in the settlements department will get the job done and are very kind and compassionate.
Michelle
It has been 12 years since my father passed away. Every time this anniversary comes, it always overwhelms me with a mixture of emotions. On one side, just like most people, I start to reminisce about the great times we had as a family and how I miss it so much. On the other side, I can’t help but remember the pain and suffering he endured the last several months of his life. I believe closure sits right in the middle of these emotions. Closure is always hard when someone you love passes away. To us, closure felt unattainable. It was hard because we did not understand why he was taken from us so soon. Collectively as a family we felt that he never needed to suffer the way that he did. When I start to think about closure, part of me thinks about James Ferraro Jr. and The Ferraro Law Firm. My mother found the law firm while my father was still alive. She had inquired about possibly finding out, and holding accountable, those individuals and/or companies that had contributed to my father’s illness. They went to work for my mother immediately and inevitably helped her find a little piece of closure that she so desperately needed following his death. As I have always said, no amount of money could ever replace my father. However, because of the tireless work of James Jr. and the rest of the firm, my mother was able to move forward with her life. She moved forward knowing she would be okay, our family would be okay, and that those responsible were held accountable. Fast-forward to today and I still think about James Jr. and the firm during this anniversary. I cannot stress enough the amount of appreciation my family and I have for them and what they did for us.
Very friendly, caring, and thoughtful about the client.
10/10 and would highly recommended!
Nick Henderson
The Ferraro Law Firm and staff are well respected and uphold this reputation in their commitment to their clients. I have experienced this in a long awaited resolution to a family case. Attorney Steven Valdes was excellent in answering all questions and worked diligently to find important documents that allowed this problem to be brought to fruition. I highly recommend this law firm for any personal cases.
Gail Berger
The Steps Your Insulin Price-Fixing Attorney Will Take
The Steps Your Insulin Price-Fixing Attorney Will Take
Once you decide to hire an attorney for your insulin price-fixing case, they will guide you through a clear and structured step-by-step process:
1
Initial Consultation & Analysis
We examine your prescription drug spend data, focusing on insulin cost spikes that surpass normal inflation. We identify parties responsible—insulin manufacturers and PBMs—and potential legal angles.
2
Investigation & Evidence Gathering
Our team partners with healthcare economists, supply-chain auditors, and insiders to uncover the hidden nature of the insulin pricing scheme. We compile drug prices timelines, rebate deals, and communications showing possible collusion.
3
Claim Preparation & Filing
Having built a robust factual base, we file your lawsuit—either individually or as part of a broader group or multidistrict litigation.
4
Negotiation & Settlement Discussions
Defendants may propose partial refunds or changes in rebate structures. We push for sums reflecting overpayment restitution, punitive damages, or injunctive relief banning future manipulative practices.
5
Trial Preparation (If Needed)
If no fair settlement emerges, we proceed to trial—demonstrating how your plan suffered financial harm due to artificially inflated insulin prices. We detail PBM “kickbacks,” unfair trade practices, and the financial strain on your membership.
6
Ongoing Support & Communication
After the verdict or settlement, Ferraro Law remains available to make sure you stay compliant and address any appeals, new litigation openings, or expansions to coverage that might affect your plan or membership.
Meet Your Insulin Price-Fixing Attorneys
Meet Your Insulin Price-Fixing Attorneys
Learn More About Our Team
At Ferraro Law, our attorneys bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the financial and legal complexities surrounding insulin price-fixing cases. Natalia M. Salas, James L. Ferraro, and Jim L. Ferraro work collaboratively, leveraging their knowledge in financial analysis, class action litigation, and high-stakes pharmaceutical cases to fight for justice. Together, they are committed to holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and providing fairness for those impacted by inflated insulin costs.
Natalia M. Salas
Natalia handles complex, high-stakes litigation across mass torts, MDLs, and commercial disputes. She plays a national leadership role in major cases—from insulin pricing to PFAS contamination—and is known for her sharp strategy, courtroom strength, and deep commitment to client advocacy.
James L. Ferraro Jr.
James handles high-stakes injury and environmental cases, focusing on toxic torts, product liability, and public impact litigation. He leads the firm’s national MDL work and has helped recover tens of millions of dollars for cities, families, and individuals harmed by corporate negligence.
James L. Ferraro Sr.
For over 40 years, Jim has led high-impact cases against major corporations in asbestos, environmental, and injury litigation—securing billions of dollars and meaningful outcomes for people facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
01.
Why are insulin prices so high despite low production costs?
Insulin manufacturers and PBMs conspire to inflate prices through rebate demands and hidden financial arrangements. While production costs remain relatively low, these practices drive up list prices, leaving patients and self-funded plans to bear the financial burden.
02.
Who is affected by the insulin pricing scheme?
The scheme impacts a wide range of parties, including patients who rely on insulin, self-funded healthcare plans, local governments, non-profit organizations, and other payors responsible for covering prescription drug costs.
03.
Can short-term price increases harm patients?
Yes, even short-term price hikes can force patients to skip doses or ration insulin, leading to severe health complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis, organ failure, or even death.
04.
Are there ongoing government investigations into insulin pricing?
Yes, federal agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general are investigating insulin manufacturers and PBMs for potential antitrust and consumer protection violations.
05.
Can Ferraro Law help clients outside of Florida?
Yes, Ferraro Law represents clients nationwide in insulin price-fixing and other large-scale litigation cases.
glossary of key terms
glossary of key terms
Insulin Pricing Scheme
Alleged collusion between insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers to artificially inflate insulin costs beyond fair market levels.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Middlemen who negotiate drug prices and formularies, playing a pivotal role in setting insulin’s final list price.
Self-Funded Healthcare Plans
Insurance structures where employers or government entities pay claims directly rather than relying on a third-party insurer. Often hardest hit by inflated insulin expenditures.
List Price
The publicly stated price for insulin before rebates or discounts, often manipulated by PBMs and drug manufacturers for mutual gain.
Unjust Enrichment
A legal claim that arises when one party profits at another’s expense through unethical, illegal, or inequitable means. Central to insulin price-fixing allegations.
Patient Assistance Program
Programs purportedly help those who can’t afford diabetes medications, but critics say these often hide the deeper problem of insulin overpricing.
Rebates & Kickbacks
Incentives demanded by PBMs from drug makers for favorable formulary placement, believed to inflate insulin net costs.
Net Sales
The actual revenue after rebates or discounts, distinguishing from the nominal list price. At the heart of many insulin collusion claims.
What's Next?
what’s next?
If you are a self-funded payer of health insurance, government entity, or private plan has been crushed by artificially inflated insulin costs, you may be eligigible to file a lawsuit. By leveraging decades of success in mass tort and consumer fraud actions, we lead the fight to recover your lost funds, secure an equitable insulin market, and prevent future financial harm caused by the insulin pricing scheme.
attorney referral program
attorney referral program
Ferraro Law is nationally renowned for achieving significant settlements in complex personal injury cases. Firms across the country refer clients to Ferraro Law, recognizing our commitment to exceptional service, groundbreaking results, and readiness to tackle cases others find too risky or costly.
