Current Events in December 2021

Since the financial crisis more than a decade ago, interest rates have reached historic lows. But with inflation returning for the first time in four decades, the Federal Reserve has indicated that rates will likely go back up, at least for a while.

Wrapping up a two-day meeting of the Fed’s Open Market Committee, a majority of its members predict that there will be three increases in the Fed’s key interest rate in 2022.

So, what does that mean for consumers? The biggest impact will most likely be on credit card rates, which are most directly connected to the federal funds rate and used to control the amount of cash in the monetary system. Over time, however, the ripple effect could make all types of borrowing more costly.

The Fed’s rate hikes are likely to be small. Normally, the Fed raises its rate a quarter-point at a time. Since the current rate target is near 0%, the federal funds rate is likely to be 1% or less at the end of the tightening cycle next year.

Taming inflation

By raising interest rates, the Fed hopes to slow inflation by slowing business activity. Sara Rathner, credit cards expert at NerdWallet, says inflation makes everyday purchases more expensive, raising the risk that consumers will increase high-interest credit card balances to meet everyday expenses.

“This is especially difficult for those who lost income during the pandemic and are struggling to make up lost ground,” Rathner said in an email to ConsumerAffairs. “While an increase in interest rates would make credit card debt more expensive, interest rates are always high for these products.”

Mortgages, and some other longer-term loans, are not directly tied to Federal Reserve interest rates but to U.S. Treasury bonds. If rising rates cause the economy to slow, more investors may purchase these bonds, causing those rates to go down. That could keep mortgage rates low.

For the housing market to remain stable, mortgage rates must remain close to where they are now. With home prices at record highs, any increase in mortgage rates will make monthly payments less affordable.

If all types of interest rates rise to levels that were prevalent before the financial crisis, economists warn that sectors of the economy that are dependent on financing – such as housing and the auto industry – would suffer because fewer consumers could afford the monthly payments.

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association explored the safety of blood pressure treatments for pregnant women. According to their findings, these treatments not only help maintain healthy blood pressure levels, but they can also improve pregnancy and delivery outcomes.

“For decades, the benefits of blood pressure treatment for pregnant women were unclear,” said researcher Dr. Vesna D. Garovic. “And there were concerns about fetal well-being from exposure to antihypertensive medications. 

“Through our comprehensive review of the existing literature, it is reassuring to see emerging evidence that treating high blood pressure during pregnancy is safe and effective and may be beneficial at lower thresholds than previously thought. Now, we have the current statement focused on hypertension during pregnancy to help inform optimal treatment and future research.” 

Keeping mothers and babies healthy

The researchers analyzed several earlier studies that evaluated the safety of different blood pressure treatments for pregnant women. Previous findings suggested that some treatments could compromise fetuses’ health, but the researchers noted that addressing hypertension is also important for mothers’ long-term health.

Ultimately, their work showed that blood pressure treatments – such as prescription medications and lifestyle habits like consistent exercise and healthy diets – are important for the health of mothers beyond their pregnancies. The team found that engaging in these habits both before and during pregnancy is key to keeping blood pressure in a healthy range. Pregnant women who exercised were 30% less likely to develop high blood pressure and 40% less likely to develop preeclampsia. 

Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the likelihood of health risks for both mothers and infants, including low infant birth weight and preterm delivery. The researchers said when women have high blood pressure at the time of delivery, they have a higher risk of heart health complications down the road.

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done to better understand women’s heart health before, during, and after pregnancy. 

“Future clinical trials are needed to address questions about when to begin treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy,” said Dr. Garovic. “Also, close collaboration between the American Heart Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will be instrumental in optimizing diagnosis and treatment of hypertension during pregnancy and in improving immediate and long-term outcomes for many women who develop hypertension during pregnancy.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney explored the health benefits associated with delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord for premature infants. According to the researchers, waiting just one minute to clamp the umbilical cord may reduce the risk of developing a disability or dying. 

“Ten years ago, umbilical cords were routinely clamped quickly after a very preterm birth and the baby was passed to a pediatrician in case the child needed urgent help with breathing,” said researcher William Tarnow-Mordi. “But we now know that almost all very preterm babies will start breathing by themselves in the first minute, if they are given that time. 

“We think that, after delaying cord clamping, babies get extra red and white blood cells and stem cells from the placenta, helping to achieve healthy oxygen levels, control infection, and repair injured tissue.” 

Prioritizing infants’ health and safety

This study follows up on the 2017 Australian Placental Transfusion Study, which included data from more than 3,000 newborns from seven countries. 

Infants born at 30 weeks were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on umbilical cord clamping: one in which physicians waited at least one minute after birth to clamp the umbilical cord and one in which physicians clamped the umbilical cord after 10 seconds. The researchers followed up with the infants when they turned two years old to evaluate their health outcomes. 

The study showed that waiting just one minute to clamp the umbilical cord was better for preterm infants long-term; the overall risk of mortality or disability was nearly 20% lower among infants in this group. The risk of disability was 26% among the immediate clamping group, compared with a 23% risk for the delayed clamping group. Similarly, the mortality risk in the immediate clamping group was 11%, compared with 8% in the delayed clamping group. 

“Applied consistently worldwide, aiming to wait a minute before cord clamping in very preterm babies who do not require immediate resuscitation could ensure that an extra 50,000 survive without major disability in the next decade,” said researcher Dr. Kristy Robledo. “In other words, for every 20 very preterm babies who get delayed instead of immediate clamping, one more will survive without major disability.” 

Making this process the norm moving forward

The researchers hope these findings inspire health care professionals in labor and delivery to delay clamping the umbilical cord in premature infants.

“Midwives welcome this research – delaying cord clamping ensures that the physiological changes happening at the time of birth can happen and there are clearly very good outcomes especially for premature babies,” said researcher Caroline Homer. “We can all do this and now we know we should.” 

Audi is recalling 288,991 model year 2021-2022 Q5 Sportbacks & SQ5 Sportbacks and model year 2018-2022 Q5s & SQ5 vehicles.

A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle, may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module and cause it to shut down.

A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 24, 2022.

Owners may contact Audi customer service at (800) 253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 54,429 model year 2021 Atlas and model year 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles.

The air conditioning system drain tube could be blocked, causing water to leak inside the vehicle near the airbag control module.

A water leak may damage the airbag control module, causing inadvertent airbag deployment and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

What to do

Dealers will repair the drain tube and replace the airbag control module -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 87H4.

Erie Meat Products of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is recalling approximately 1,224 pounds of fully cooked chicken bologna.

The products were imported into the U.S. without undergoing USDA import reinspection. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following fully cooked items, imported on or around November 15, 2021, are being recalled.

• 24-lb. cases containing 12, 2-lb vacuum-packed packages of “GOLDEN MAPLE Chicken Bologna” with product code 91203 and “BEST BEFORE” dates of “2023-APR-13”, ”2023-APR-18”, and “2023-MAY-03”

The recalled products do not bear the USDA mark of inspection, but they do bear the Canada establishment seal “713.” They were shipped to correctional institutions in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

What to do

Institutions that purchased the recalled products should not serve them, Instead, the products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (416) 771-1419 or online at dr.linda.bergman@eriemeats.com.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 50,268,561 (50,164,035)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 801,078 (799,090)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 271,827,830 (271,173,538)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,326,198 (5,317,639)‌

U.S. death toll exceeds 800,000

The U.S. passed another COVID-19 milestone in the last 24 hours. The U.S. death toll since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 reached and exceeded 800,000, according to the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S., by far, has recorded more cases and deaths than any other country. The number of cases and deaths has taken some medical experts by surprise.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told NPR that the role of various variants of the virus has prolonged the pandemic. “I think the variant issue right now continues to be the 210-mile-an-hour curve ball that we don't really yet understand completely," he said.

Google reportedly gets aggressive on employee vaccinations

Google is putting some teeth into its vaccination policy. According to an internal memo, employees who don’t get vaccinated will lose some pay and will probably lose their jobs eventually. 

CNBC reports that it has viewed the memo that warns Google employees that they will be placed on “paid administrative leave” for 30 days if they haven’t complied with the vaccination rules by the Jan. 18 deadline. If they remain unvaccinated, the company says employees will go on “unpaid personal leave” for up to six months, followed by termination. 

“Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite,” the memo stated. It also stated that “frequent testing is not a valid alternative to vaccination.”

NFL grapples with COVID-19 outbreak

The National Football League is suddenly dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. Individual players on various teams have tested positive this season and entered COVID-19 protocols. This week, the league was presented with multiple cases on multiple teams.

“After a record 37 positive COVID tests Monday, results still are being finalized but more than 25  additional positives are expected today, per source,” NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday. 

ESPN’s Keven Seifert reports that at least 62 NFL players tested positive in the last two days. He says 110 NFL players tested positive for the virus between September 5 and November 27.

Around the nation

• Louisiana: Gov. John Bel Edwards celebrated the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 vaccine availability in his state by renewing his call for everyone to take advantage of it. “One year ago, I was proud and hopeful as I witnessed Nurse Deborah Ford receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose in the state of Louisiana. Since that day, I am proud to see that more than 2.29 million Louisianans have gone sleeves up and are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”

• Maryland: Hospitalizations are surging, but official data on COVID-19 has not been updated in nearly two weeks. The Maryland Health Department says it is still recovering from a "network security incident." A number of state agencies are working with federal and state law enforcement offices "to address the incident and to gather additional information," a spokesperson said.

• Oregon: While surrounding states are dealing with a rising number of severe cases, Oregon reports that its infection rate dropped sharply in the last week. Statewide, the number of new cases is down more than 20%. Cases in Lane County fell by more than 46%.

• Tennessee: Several former Tennessee Titans players joined doctors and nurses at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Tuesday for a public vaccination event. Nine-year-old Witt Scott got more than a shot – one of the former players let him try on his two Super Bowl rings.

• Maine: Members of the Maine National Guard have been deployed to 10 health care facilities around the state to assist with a surge in COVID-19 cases. The move comes as hospitals are reaching capacity limits. Gov. Janet Mills estimates that the Guard’s mobile clinics will provide 80 additional beds.

Despite the fact that 70% of the women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or larger, cultivating nearly $7 billion in retail sales, the plus-size market doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as other clothing categories. So when a recent review submitted to ConsumerAffairs told us about a different kind of experience with Old Navy, we decided to dig a little deeper.

“About 6-8 months ago, Old Navy changed their business model for their Women's clothing department. Prior to the change, their plus size clothes were only available online and were always considerably more expensive than the Misses line of clothing,” wrote Joy of Louisville, Ky.

Joy applauded Old Navy for expanding its whole line of women's clothing from size small to 4X in stores – and all the same price point. “As a plus sized woman, this is such a wonderful change. I applaud them for realizing that plus size women would like the same options and misses sized women and not have to pay an arm and a leg for it," she said.

ConsumerAffairs reached out to Old Navy for more information and was told that the initiative that Joy wrote about is called “BODEQUALITY.” A company representative said it was an initiative that the company started building back in 2004 when it first introduced extended sizes. 

“Old Navy is a brand that believes in the democracy of style and fundamentally believes in size inclusion,” the spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs. “We have always believed that all our customers should be able to participate in the same brand experience and have the same access to product, and have been working towards this launch for years.”

Getting it right all the way down to the size of the pockets

It’s taken Old Navy 17 years to get to where it was comfortable with the BODEQUALITY blueprint. The company said it has spent that time conducting customer listening sessions and shop-alongs, taking body scans, and holding fit clinics – taking in details all the way down to factors like pocket size, denim waist gaps, and the length of dresses and pants. 

“What I’m most proud of is how this effort stays true to our values of democratizing style for all,” said Nancy Green, president and CEO of Old Navy, in an email to all global Gap Inc. employees. “It is a transformative moment for our brand and our customers, that further establishes our leadership position in inclusive fit and style.”

Joy, for one, is happy that Old Navy decided to make a difference. “I like that plus-size isn't just one little back corner of the store at Old Navy now,” she said. 

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that’s intended to reduce the complexity of government services, such as the processing of benefits and passports. He stated that the U.S. needs to design and deliver services in a way that every American can navigate easily. 

“We must use technology to modernize Government and implement services that are simple to use, accessible, equitable, protective, transparent, and responsive for all people of the United States,” he said in an announcement.

Improving customer service and service delivery

When the baseline for interacting with Americans was set in 1993, it required agencies that provide significant services directly to the public to gather feedback from consumers and establish standards that meet or exceed those provided by the private sector. 

Under the new order, government agencies will be tasked with improving service delivery and customer experience, making them “fundamental priorities.” One of the major service delivery items that the Biden administration is focusing on involves passports.

As any American who has tried to apply for or renew a passport knows, the process can take time and require a lot of jumping through hoops. To change that perception, Biden is asking the Secretary of State to “design and deliver a new online passport renewal experience that does not require any physical documents to be mailed.”

Digitize, digitize, digitize

Biden hammered home the importance of digitizing government forms and services. He specifically pointed out that the Veterans Administration needs to provide digital services through a single, integrated, and equitable digital platform on VA.gov and the VA mobile app. 

He also asked for a complete makeover of the USA.gov website so that it can be a centralized, digital “Federal Front Door” that citizens can use to access all government benefits, services, and programs. 

“Every interaction between the Federal Government and the public, whether it involves renewing a passport or calling for a status update on a farm loan application, should be seen as an opportunity for the Government to save an individual’s time (and thus reduce “time taxes”) and to deliver the level of service that the public expects and deserves,” Biden said.

“By demonstrating that its processes are effective and efficient, in addition to being fair, protective of privacy interests, and transparent, the Federal Government can build public trust.”

It’s winter, there’s inflation, and electric bills are going up. It’s probably no surprise that the latest J.D. Power survey of utility company customers shows that satisfaction is going down.

The survey put residential customer satisfaction at 748 on a 1,000 point scale. That’s down from 751 in 2020. The authors said the rating might have been higher if utilities did a better job of publicizing the things they do to help their communities. The study shows that only 32% of customers are aware of their utilities’ efforts to help economic development.

“In today’s roller-coaster economic environment, electric utility providers need to not only increase their efforts to help their local economies but also communicate more effectively about utility programs and activities,” said John Hazen, managing director of the utility practice at J.D. Power. “Utility customers want to hear about these efforts and, when they do, overall satisfaction is higher. Promoting economic development efforts can increase overall satisfaction by as much as 122 points.”

Consumer reviews vary for utilities

Consumers rating their electric utility providers at ConsumerAffairs appear to be reasonably satisfied to not very satisfied, depending on the company. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, ConsumerAffairs reviewers rated five major providers this way:

• First Energy: 4.0 stars

• Pacific Gas and Electric: 3.9 stars

• Dominion Resouces: 3.9 stars

• Duke Energy: 3.5 stars

• Con Edison: 1.3 stars

Consumer attitudes about electric utilities can be formed by a wide array of issues. For many, the monthly bill is a big factor.

“Their cost is always high no matter what time of year or season we are in,” Charleston, of Hopewell, Va., wrote in a review of Dominion resources. “Every time I pay my bill it never seems to go down, it increases every month. Tried to get help but no one ever responds to my phone calls.”

But others -- like Patty, a First Energy customer in Pittsburgh -- appreciate things like reliability.

“We have experienced very few outages or interruptions in service and when we have, they have been very brief,” Patty wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “We never have brownouts or flickers. Our power is something we don't think about. We take it completely for granted which says a lot about First Energy.”

Earthlink is rolling out a new wireless internet service – EarthLink Wireless Home Internet – that it says will provide high-speed coverage to rural communities and other underserved areas. 

It works by connecting to the strongest signal from nearby cell phone towers. It then connects the user's computer or network to the internet at 5G or 4G speeds. The service, however, is limited to certain areas of the U.S.

The company says consumers who sign up for the service will get a high-speed Wi-Fi router to enable easy and secure connections for dozens of devices in the home.

The company says the new service will provide an alternative for people who don’t have access to wired services at their homes. For example, many rural consumers often have to connect to the internet via satellite, which can be costly. Some of these services are “metered,” so a user gets access to a set amount of data each month.

Earthlink says the new wireless service is affordable – starting at $54.95 a month – and utilizes new technology to enhance speed.

"As we expand our business, our priority continues to be creating the right connection for all our customers," said Glenn Goad, EarthLink’s CEO. "We know that millions of people in underserved areas are dissatisfied with the internet options available to them and millions of others are frustrated with the service level of their current internet service provider. Now, there's a great new alternative. EarthLink Wireless Home Internet changes everything for them."

The company was an early arrival on the internet scene, established in 1994. It currently offers internet service through DSL, cable, satellite, and even dial-up.

Consumer reviews

Some reviews posted at ConsumerAffairs have complained that Earthlink blocks emails without warning. Cal, from San Francisco, says it might have to do with storage limits.

“Their limit of data storage is so small that you are constantly deleting and clearing important emails,” Cal wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “But you don't know that you are out of storage because the account doesn't show you are. EARTHLINK just blocks emails coming to you so you have no idea what email you aren't getting.”

Consumers posting positive reviews say the company is easy to work with and that its plans are affordable. Overall, reviewers give the company 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Earthlink says its new service expands the company's coverage by adding internet service on a mobile network to its existing high-speed fiber internet offerings. The service offers plug-and-play installation. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia explored how eating more dairy may come with some health benefits. According to their findings, eating yogurt on a daily basis may help consumers manage high blood pressure. 

“Dairy foods, especially yogurt, may be capable of reducing blood pressure,” said researcher Dr. Alexandra Wade. “This is because dairy foods contain a range of micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. 

“Yogurt is especially interesting because it also contains bacteria that promote the release of proteins, which lowers blood pressure.” 

Benefits of eating more yogurt

The researchers analyzed data from over 900 people enrolled in the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study. Participants answered questions about their typical diets, and the researchers tracked their blood pressure readings over time. 

Ultimately, they learned that eating yogurt daily provided blood pressure benefits. Those who consumed higher quantities of yogurt also had better blood pressure readings over the course of the study. 

“This study showed for people with elevated blood pressure, even small amounts of yogurt were associated with lower blood pressure,” Dr. Wade said. “And for those who consumed yogurt regularly, the results were even stronger, with blood pressure readings nearly seven points lower than those who did not consume yogurt.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done to identify potential treatments for those struggling with high blood pressure. 

“High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so it’s important to find ways to reduce and regulate it,” said Dr. Wade. 

Eating more plant-based foods has been linked with improving consumers’ heart health, and now researchers from the University of Barcelona say it can boost your brain health too. According to their findings, older consumers may lower their risk of cognitive impairment when they’re eating more plant-based foods. 

“A higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods provides polyphenols and other bioactive compounds that could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline due to aging,” said researcher Cristina Andrés-Lacueva. 

The link between diet and cognitive function

The researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 840 participants over the age of 65 enrolled in the Three-City Cohort study. They also looked at results from several different neuropsychological exams to measure cognitive function. 

The researchers identified a link between the participants’ diets and their cognitive function. Their findings showed that certain foods — such as blueberries, pomegranates, green tea, red wine, cocoa, and coffee — had protective benefits against cognitive impairment. Foods that are high in polyphenols, many of which are plant-based, were associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline. 

The team also found that certain metabolites were associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment, while others lowered the risk of these symptoms. 

“For example, 2-furoglycerine and 3-methylanthine, which are biomarkers of coffee and cocoa consumption, had a protective profile, while saccharin – derived from the consumption of artificial sweeteners – is associated with a damaging role,” said Andrés-Lacueva. 

While eating more plant-based options can certainly benefit consumers’ cognitive health, the researchers hope these findings are also used to develop treatments for older consumers struggling with cognition. 

“The study of the relationship between cognitive impairment, the metabolism of the microbiota, and food and endogenous metabolism is essential to preventive and therapeutic strategies that help to take care of our cognitive health,” said researcher Mercè Pallàs. 

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 2,259 model year 2022 Siennas with seating for eight passengers.

An incorrect seat belt webbing guide may have been installed on the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies.

During seat belt pre-tensioner deployment, the incorrect webbing guide may damage the seat belt webbing, causing it to tear and increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 13, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB08 and 21TA08.

Alexander & Hornung of St. Clair Shores, Mich., is expanding its earlier recall of pork products from 234,391 pounds to 2,320,774 pounds.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

A list of the recalled products, which may be found here, includes newly added products and updates to the sell-by dates.

The recalled items, produced on various dates and bearing the establishment number “EST. M10125” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them. Instead, they can discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (866) 866-3703, online at www.alexanderhornung.com, or by email at kerrim@alexander-hornung.com.

Chrysler is recalling 22 model year 2022 Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

The vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers.

An inoperable defrosting and defogging system can reduce visibility for drivers in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Chrysler will repurchase the affected vehicles. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 30, 2021.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y88.

International Golden Foods (IGF) of Bensenville, Ill., is recalling certain lot codes of Al Kanater brand tahini.

The product may be contaminated with salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product, which comes in a 16-oz jar bearing the lot number TT4N‐201127, UPC 6‐92551‐00002‐0, and product code AT1LB, was sold nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should discontinue using it and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact IGF by phone at (630) 860-5552 or by email at info@goldenfood.com.

Diabetics who depend on life-saving insulin are paying an ever-increasing price for the drug, and that problem has finally gotten the attention of politicians. Democrats have added a provision to a $2 trillion social spending bill that would place caps on insulin prices.

"If you're one of those Americans that are paying too much for insulin, my ‘Build Back Better' plan is going to change that because we're going to guarantee you pay no more than $35 a month," President Biden said after the House added the cap to the bill.

According to GoodRx, the cost of insulin rose by 47% between 2014 and 2019. However, prices have declined by 6% in the last 12 months. 

Patients who need the daily injections and pills often express frustration. While reviewing Walgreens, Luke, of Lakeville, Minn., said insulin is not only expensive but sometimes hard to get for his daughter, who has diabetes.

“We waited over 2 weeks for them to refill her prescription,” Luke wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “During this time she ran out. I had to go to 2 different pharmacies for emergency vials as a partial fill, 2nd time they charged me the $50 co-pay.”

Outlook uncertain

The Washington Post reports that 19 Senate Republicans have signaled support for legislation to lower drug costs, but support for Biden’s bill capping insulin costs is not guaranteed. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has told his caucus to oppose the spending measure.

The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) supports the caps on the price of insulin and said House passage of the legislation last week is a step in the right direction.

“As this legislation moves to the Senate, CSRxP encourages lawmakers to remain focused on advancing solutions that will lower prescription drug prices by holding Big Pharma accountable and reject pharma-backed proposals, like a ban on rebates, that would hike seniors’ premiums and boost drug companies’ profits,” said CSRxP executive director Lauren Aronson.

Insulin was developed as a diabetes drug 100 years ago and hasn’t changed much during that time. Insulin drugs are administered to some patients with Type 1 diabetes because their bodies don’t produce enough on their own.