On a cold January morning in Appleton, Wisconsin, 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht did something routine. He went to Walgreens to pick up the inhaler that had helped him breathe since childhood.

At the counter, everything changed. The pharmacist told him the price had jumped from about $67 to more than $540. His insurance would no longer cover it after a policy change by OptumRx. Cole simply could not afford it. He walked out without the preventative inhaler he relied on.

For the next five days, he struggled. He used an old emergency inhaler and tried to carry on. Friends and family later recalled how he fought for every breath. On January 15, 2024, his asthma finally overwhelmed him. Paramedics found him unconscious and blue. Despite hospital care, his parents faced the unthinkable. On January 21, they chose to remove life support.

Now, Cole’s family has turned their grief into action. They are suing OptumRx, Walgreens, and Walgreens Boots Alliance for negligence and wrongful death. They say he received no warning about the insurance change and no help finding an affordable option.

For many families, Cole’s story feels painfully familiar. It is a reminder to check coverage, ask questions, and speak up—before a routine refill becomes a life-or-death moment.