What to know about the 22-year-old Wisconsin man who died after his inhaler price spiked to $539
Diagnosed with asthma as a baby, Cole Schmidtknecht took the inhaler daily as a preventive medication since he was about 13, his parents said.
Man dies of asthma attack after inhaler cost skyrockets to more than $500
United Health Group’s pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, stopped covering Cole Schmidtknecht’s ‘life-changing’ inhaler, suit alleges.
Man Died After Inhaler Price Rose to $539, Lawsuit Alleges
Cole Schmidtknecht had chronic asthma since he was a child, and had used a steroid inhaler to control his symptoms for more than a decade.
22-year-old died of asthma attack after inhaler price went up over $500, parents say
MADISON, Wis. ( WMTV /Gray News) - A couple is suing Optum Rx and Walgreens for alleged negligence and unspecified damages after their son died of an asthma attack after he stopped taking his maintenance inhaler because he could not afford it when the price went up to over $500.
'Our son died from asthma attack after inhaler prices soared by nearly ten times'
Cole Schmidtknecht, of Wisconsin, USA, struggled to breathe after a severe asthma attack and became asphyxiated after choosing between paying rent or for an inhaler
Wisconsin man dies after inhaler cost jumps $500, according to family's lawsuit
A young Wisconsin man died from an asthma attack after the price of his inhaler skyrocketed nearly $500, according to a lawsuit filed by his family.
Lawsuit Claims Man Dies From Asthma Attack After Inhaler No Longer Covered by Insurance
The family of a 22-year-old Wisconsin man has filed a lawsuit claiming that he died from a preventable asthma attack after the price of his inhaler jumped nearly $500.
Mother Says Her Son Died After UnitedHealth Jacked the Price of His Inhaler From $66 to $539
After UnitedHealthcare's drug arm jacked up the price of inhalers, a young man with severe asthma had to go without — and then died.
Wisconsin man dies in agony after inhaler price soars from $67 to $540
A Wisconsin man reportedly passed away in extreme agony after the price of his inhaler shot skyrocketed from $67 to $540, and he was not informed about the changes
Wisconsin man died after asthma inhaler cost skyrocketed to $539, lawsuit says
The parents of Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, are suing Walgreens and OptumRx, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, over the Wisconsin man's death in 2024.
When the Cost of His Asthma Inhaler Went Up $500, His Parents Claim He Couldn't Pay. Two Weeks Later He Was Dead at 22
Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, couldn't pay for his daily inhaler due to the “prohibitively expensive” price increase. Two weeks ...
The Post-Crescent10d
A 22-year-old from Appleton died after his inhaler price skyrocketed. His parents are suing.
On Jan. 10, 2024, 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht went to his pharmacy, the Walgreens at 729 W. Northland Ave. in Appleton, to refill his inhaler prescription. Diagnosed with asthma as a baby ...
Associated Press9d
Wisconsin couple sues Walgreens and Optum Rx, saying son died after $500 price rise for asthma meds
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This undated photo provided by Shanon Schmidtknecht shows Cole ...