WEST SENECA, NY (WKBW) — Some families have shelled out hundreds of dollars for EpiPens through the years providing a life-saving injection of epinephrine for those who suffer from severe food allergies. But last week Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law that will cap off the price of EpiPens.
"I love that the cost is coming down right now, or at least being capped,” said Brandi Carroll Evans.
Evans owns Frosted716, her very own peanut and tree-nut-free bakery in West Seneca. She told me that when her son Michael was 11 months old, she discovered he had a peanut allergy, requiring an EpiPen.
Initially, it only cost her a co-pay of about $20, but then prices skyrocketed.
“The cost just kept getting very high," said Evans. "It kept, you know, being something that we'd have to try to budget. EpiPens only last about a year, so you have to replenish them if they're not needed, which is a good thing that they're not needed, but it just got to be out of control."
Evans's son is now 29 years old and still relies on an EpiPen.
The new state law will mean health insurers in New York will be required to cover the cost and you will only pay $100 out of pocket each year.
Evans said for so many families the high cost has been tough.
“It's a struggle," explained Evans. "Especially in today's economy. It’s just very difficult to have those additional costs. Especially when a low-income family, they struggle. Do they buy groceries? Or do they buy a new EpiPen? Or do they let that EpiPen that they have in their cabinet just kind of hang out for a few more months? So this way, being capped at $100 a year is wonderful.”
However, families will still have to wait a year for the cost relief. The new law will begin in January of 2026.
Evans told me she loves that families will finally have relief.
"If you don't have that and you happen to have a reaction, I mean, it's call 9-1-1, and hope that ambulance gets here in time so, it's, it's life or death,” said Evans.
Frosted716 features all kinds of baked goods that are peanut and nut-free for those of you who have severe allergies.
“We also have gluten-free items, because my mother has an allergy to wheat, so, we try to take care of the people that have the food allergies and be very sensitive to that,” described Evans.
“How busy are you right now?” I asked.
“Right now, I’m on about three hours of sleep, which is a good thing. It's not a bad thing. It's a silly season with the holidays, a lot of orders, which is wonderful, so if you'd like to come in and grab a treat for Christmas, you know we're here, come on in,” responded Evans.
