Wisconsin couple sues Walgreens and Optum Rx over son's death

Man dies of asthma attack after inhaler cost skyrockets to more than $500

His parents are suing the pharmacy Walgreens and pharmacy benefit manager Optum Rx, contending their son could have been informed about other options.

22-year-old died of asthma attack after inhaler price went up over $500, parents say

A young man died of an asthma attack after the price of his inhaler went up over $500.

Couple speaks out about losing son to asthma attack after his meds shot up to $500

EXCLUSIVE: Shanon and Bill Schmidtknecht tell Rhian Lubin of their grief for son Cole and their fight for a fairer health insurance system

Man dies of asthma attack after inhaler cost skyrockets to more than $500 - City Desk ABQ

By Jonathan Edwards · The Washington Post (c) 2025Cole Schmidtknecht expected to pay $66.86 for a three-month supply of his preventative asthma inhalers in January 2024 when he went to his Walgreens pharmacy in Appleton, Wisconsin. The pharmacy allegedly told him his insurance no longer covered the medication, so he would have to pay the full cost.The bill: $539.19, according to a recently filed lawsuit.Schmidtknecht, 22, couldn’t afford that, a…

According to the insurance company, the pharmacy should have contacted his doctor and found an alternative, but it did not.

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, but then he died of an asthma attack, per a lawsuit filed by his parents legacy.com Cole Schmidtknecht was 22 when he died of an asthma attack.The parents of Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, are suing his medical insurance company and pharmacy after he died of an asthma attack, allegedly due to the new cost of his inhalerThe price of Cole's inh…