Cap the Co-Pay Law Goes into Effect: Illinois Residents with Lung Disease See Significant Savings

January 12, 2026

Starting this month, an Illinois amendment that caps the co-pay of an inhaler at $25 per 30-day supply will fully go into effect. Coverage for prescription inhalers will also be exempted from insurance plan deductibles. This helps people with lung disease afford the medications they need to stay healthy.

In Illinois, there are over 1.5 million residents diagnosed with asthma and COPD. Unfortunately, many have limited resources and are among the 25% of people nationwide who are unable to fill their prescribed medications due to costs.  Some patients require two or three inhalers a month. Yet a single inhaler can cost as much as $600 per month. Without affordable prescription inhalers, lung disease patients put their health at risk and face a greater likelihood of exacerbations, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death.

By making prescribed inhalers more affordable, residents should see a ripple effect across the state by reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations which will result in significant healthcare savings. And as more children with asthma bring their now affordable inhalers to school this will allow them to remain in class after an asthma episode instead of missing school.

“This law ensures that cost is no longer a barrier to lifesaving inhalers. Many families told my office they were paying hundreds of dollars a month just to breathe. By capping inhaler copays at $25, we can improve health equity, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, and help save lives across Illinois,” said State Representative Laura Faver-Dias, the House co-sponsor of the bill.

“In Illinois, we continue to prioritize residents’ needs by tackling rising medical costs, including limiting the price of EpiPens and insulin,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter, the Senate co-sponsor. “By lowering the costs of inhalers, we are taking another step toward making health care affordable and accessible to those who need it.”

“The state of Illinois has reduced a significant barrier for people managing chronic lung health conditions,” said Rob Anderson, President and CEO of Respiratory Health Association. “This will increase quality of life for Illinoisans suffering from asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases.”

Double-lung transplant recipient Catherine Horine uses inhalers daily to protect her lungs. “Living on Social Security, my prescription drug costs really means my income takes a very big hit. Being able to reduce what I have to pay for my inhalers by over $3,000 would help me tremendously!” she shared.

Mia Fritsch-Anderson has been managing her asthma from a young age. Now a college student, she sees the reduced cost firsthand. “I have previously been spending anywhere from $3,600-$6,000 a year on my daily inhaler depending on how much I need. This bill means I will pay $300 a year now. That is a huge savings and it’s going to really help me and so many families across Illinois. I think of the people who had to make a choice to pay rent or afford medication to breathe and I can’t overstate how much this will help asthmatics and their families in our state!” she said.