Jennifer Blumenthal: How Barriers to Medication Put Lives at Risk

For years, 55-year-old Jennifer Blumenthal of New Jersey, has lived with Type 1.5 diabetes. Managing her condition depends on two prescriptions, Novolog and Jardiance. Without them, her health and life are at risk.

Finding the right treatment hasn’t been easy. After years of taking an antibiotic that damaged her liver, Jennifer’s diabetes spiraled out of control, leading to a medical emergency and hospitalization. She tried multiple insulin therapies to no avail, including Humulin, Lantus, and Novolin N.. But Novolog was the exception. It became the only insulin that could keep her blood sugar stable. “It was a circus of hoops I had to go through,” Jennifer explained, “but Novolog is the only one that keeps me stable.”

Jennifer also relies on Jardiance, a newer diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar and reduces the risk of serious complications. Together, these prescriptions are what keep Jennifer healthy and safe. However, consistent access to these medications is not guaranteed.

Even though Medicare and Medicaid cover her medications, Jennifer if often forced to battle through prior authorizations, denials and billing errors. Every time she changes her Part D plan, her endocrinologist has to re-submit pages of documents to prove, again, that she’s already tried and failed other insulins. At times, she has gone without insulin for days while waiting for approval. “For me, that’s quite deadly,” she said. “My body just does not make insulin. And it was like nobody cared.”

Jennifer has also paid out of pocket for prescriptions that should have been covered, simply because pharmacies didn’t know how to bill correctly. “If I don’t advocate for myself, I get nothing,” she shared. “For years, I was paying out of pocket for it because they just didn’t understand how to bill it. I read the handbook cover to cover, and I’m college educated, and I know something’s wrong here.”

These constant battles take a toll. “The sad part is that you’re not a person, you’re a number. They don’t care that you don’t have your prescription. They’re like ‘well, too bad.’ I’ve seen so many people just literally cry because they cannot get what they need in a timely manner or even at all.”

Despite all of this, Jennifer stays vigilant, pushing back when pharmacies or insurers make mistakes and making sure she gets the medications that keep her alive. But she knows many others can’t.

Jennifer’s story reflects what too many people with chronic conditions face: endless paperwork, unexpected costs and the fear of going without the medications they need to survive. Novolog and Jardiance are not optional for her, they are lifesaving. Her experience is a reminder that lowering drug prices and fixing barriers to access isn’t abstract policy, it’s about real people who deserve stability, dignity and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their prescriptions will be there when they need them.