CHARLOTTE — An EpiPen can be lifesaving for severe allergic reactions. The medicine costs about $1, but some patients told Channel 9 that they paid more than $600 for it.
Now, people who overpaid for an EpiPen may be able to get their money back.
Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke first reported on the outrage over EpiPen pricing back in 2016 — one of the first reporters in the country to do so.
[ PAST COVERAGE: Why is the EpiPen so expensive now? Can consumers get any help? ]
Tracy Bush says she’s lucky that her family had good insurance and could afford EpiPens for her son with allergies.
“We were fortunate enough, thank goodness, that we didn’t have to pay full price. But all those other people, you could see the price hike, it was insane,” she said.
“As a mom with a child with food allergies, if I couldn’t afford that medication, I don’t know what I would have done,” she added. “If you can’t access that medication, it’s terrifying.”
According to recent court documents, the $264 million legal settlement that Stoogenke reported on will be approved.
What you need to know:
You may be eligible for part of the settlement if you bought an EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. for personal use between Aug. 24, 2011, and Nov. 1, 2020. Businesses that resell the product are not eligible.
You have to submit proof of your purchase no later than July 25. For more information, click here or call 877-221-7632.
Please note that this is not a recall — no one is claiming EpiPens are unsafe or don’t work. This is strictly about the price.
(Watch past coverage below: Some parents, lawmakers want all NC schools to carry EpiPens)
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