A Crisis Affecting Public Health and Budgets

Insulin is a necessity for over 7 million Americans living with diabetes, but its skyrocketing cost has put a massive strain on individuals and the healthcare system alike. In fact, prescription drug prices in the U.S. are nearly three times higher than in other countries. In 2023, the U.S. spent over $722 billion on prescription drugs, nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. Many Americans struggle to afford the medications they need to survive. For government entities that manage healthcare plans, the financial impact is even more significant, with inflated costs driving up expenses for employees, retirees, and beneficiaries.

This page provides an overview of how The Ferraro Law Firm is leading the fight against the insulin price-fixing scheme that has unjustly increased the financial burden on both patients and self-funded payors of healthcare. If your organization has been affected, this is your opportunity to take action.

How the Insulin Pricing Scheme Works

Over the past two decades, insulin prices have increased by over 1,000%, despite the drug being over 100 years old and having seen minimal scientific advancements. This prescription drug affordability crisis is driven in part by the manipulation of drug price competition by insulin manufacturers like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) such as CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx.



  • PBMs demand rebates and payments from insulin manufacturers to secure favorable placements on insurance formularies, pushing the prices higher.
  • Manufacturers increase insulin prices to match these demands, resulting in drastically inflated costs that are passed on to healthcare plans and their members.
  • This coordinated price-fixing allows manufacturers and PBMs to profit excessively while patients and healthcare systems bear the financial burden.

The Broader Impact on Government Entities

Government employees, particularly those with self-funded healthcare plans, have been disproportionately impacted by these artificially high insulin prices. The scheme has created enormous financial pressure on public health budgets, diverting resources from other critical services. Here’s what the price-fixing scheme has meant for public entities:

  • Increased healthcare costs: Municipalities, states, and counties pay inflated prices for insulin, which impacts the ability to provide affordable care to employees and retirees.
  • Strained budgets: With rising insulin costs, public programs are forced to reallocate funds, straining essential public services and placing a burden on taxpayers.
  • Harmed beneficiaries: Employees, retirees, and other beneficiaries may face higher co-pays or limited access to insulin due to inflated costs, which affects their ability to manage diabetes effectively.

The Ferraro Law Firm is dedicated to representing government entities in the fight against insulin price-fixing. We are actively involved in pursuing claims under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, as well as state law claims for unfair business practices and unjust enrichment, to recover overpayments that have been unlawfully obtained through this scheme.

Compensation for overpayments on insulin.
Injunctive relief to prevent future price increases.
Disgorgement of profits made from inflated pricing.

By participating in this litigation, you can help hold manufacturers and PBMs accountable for their misconduct and recover much needed funds for self-funded healthcare programs.

Why Partner with The Ferraro Law Firm?

With decades of experience in mass tort and complex litigation, The Ferraro Law Firm has a proven track record of securing results for government entities and taking on large corporations. We have the legal experience and resources to tackle cases of this magnitude, working diligently to protect the financial interests of self-funded healthcare programs.


Private and public self-funded payors of healthcare benefits, including government leaders and public officials, union leaders, and company executives who oversee healthcare pharmacy benefit programs for employees and retirees are encouraged to take legal action to recover the excessive costs caused by insulin price-fixing. If your entity has been impacted by inflated insulin prices, reach out to learn how we can assist you in this important litigation.


Contact Us Today

Get a Free Consultation
and find out how you can join the fight to restore fairness in insulin pricing. Call The Ferraro Law Firm today at  (833) 497-4225