For the parents of 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht, the pain of losing their son is compounded by a heartbreaking reality — they believe his death was entirely preventable.
Cole, a young man from Wisconsin with a bright future ahead of him, had lived with chronic asthma since he was an infant, according to The Kansas City Star. Despite his condition, he managed to lead a full life thanks to daily doses of Advair Diskus, a preventative inhaler.
For years, Cole’s medication was affordable and covered by his insurance. That all changed in January 2024, when a trip to Walgreens pharmacy delivered shocking news: his life-saving medication was no longer covered.
Cole visited his local Walgreens on January 10, 2024, to refill his prescription as he always had. But instead of paying his usual $66, he was told his insurance no longer covered Advair Diskus. The pharmacist allegedly told him there were no cheaper alternatives or generics available and failed to contact his doctor or insurance company to seek a solution.
