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.
