A young Wisconsin man tragically passed away after being unable to afford his life-saving inhaler due to a drastic price increase.
Cole Schmidtknecht, a 22-year-old who had suffered from chronic asthma since childhood, went to a Walgreens pharmacy in Appleton to pick up his prescription earlier this year. However, he was shocked to learn that the cost of his inhaler had jumped from $66.86 to $539.19.
The sudden price hike happened after OptumRX, his insurance provider, changed its coverage policy in the fall of 2023. Walgreens no longer covered his prescription, leaving Cole unable to pay the high cost. Without another option, he left the pharmacy without his inhaler.
For five days, Cole struggled to breathe while relying only on his emergency inhaler, which is meant for short-term relief rather than daily use. On January 15, he suffered a severe asthma attack. His roommate rushed him to the hospital, but Cole lost consciousness just two minutes before they arrived. Despite efforts to revive him, doctors pronounced him dead. Six days later, his parents made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support.
Now, Cole’s family has filed a lawsuit against OptumRX, Walgreens, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. They are seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit claims that Cole was never informed of the insurance change, even though Wisconsin law requires at least 30 days’ notice. It also states that Walgreens should have contacted his doctor about possible alternative treatments, but they failed to do so. The pharmacist allegedly did not suggest any affordable options for Cole to obtain his essential medication.
Attorney Michael Trunk, representing the Schmidtknecht family, strongly criticized both companies. He stated, “The evidence will show that OptumRx and Walgreens prioritized profits over Cole’s life and are directly responsible for his death.”
OptumRx responded with a statement expressing sympathy for the family’s loss. They confirmed that Cole had filled a prescription for a generic Albuterol inhaler on January 10, 2024, with a $5 copay. The company also claimed they offer alternative medications at lower costs.
This case highlights the growing concerns over prescription drug prices and insurance policy changes, which can leave patients unable to afford critical medications. Cole’s tragic story has sparked outrage and renewed calls for reform in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.