The first article says $1,300 per month for insulin. That almost certainly is a second generation insulin. Wal-Mart’s first generation insulin is $25/vial for the 2-3 vials a month a typical person needs: https://diatribe.org/paying-insulin

As to why people try to ration more expensive insulin is I suspect the “donut hole.” The young man in the first article aged out of his parent’s insurance, which was probably paying for his second-generation insulin. He probably had no idea what other options were available, or was concerned the first generation insulin was less safe.

A lot of people have limited executive functioning and our society isn’t good about helping them access the options available to them. A close family member of mine had a heart attack and was saddled with a $50,000 hospital bill. He had been eligible for Medicaid for years, but just never signed up.