Medicare patients could see lower drug costs — but timing and savings vary

Millions of Americans on Medicare may finally see some relief from high prescription drug prices — but most savings won’t arrive until 2027.

Federal health officials recently announced the next round of medications selected for Medicare price negotiations, a process created to lower costs for people who rely on expensive, widely used drugs. The list includes 15 medications that treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and autoimmune disorders. Several are among Medicare’s biggest cost drivers, totaling billions in annual spending.

According to reporting from Kiplinger and CBS News, some of the drugs on the negotiation list include:

• Eliquis, a blood thinner used by more than 3 million Medicare beneficiaries.
• Opdivo and Imbruvica, cancer therapies with price tags that may exceed tens of thousands of dollars a year.
• Jardiance, a widely prescribed diabetes drug.
• Enbrel, used for rheumatoid arthritis.

Negotiated prices for these drugs are expected to take effect in 2027, meaning patients won’t see lower costs immediately. Still, federal officials estimate that the reductions could save Medicare billions—and reduce out-of-pocket costs for many older adults who depend on these medications.

The new list follows a first round of 10 drugs already undergoing negotiation, with prices scheduled to change in 2026. Together, these efforts aim to address a long-standing frustration among people on Medicare: drug prices that rise faster than inflation and make it harder to manage chronic health conditions.

CBS News reports that about 9 million Medicare beneficiaries take at least one of the 15 drugs on this latest list. For people living on fixed incomes, even small monthly reductions could ease financial pressure.

Advocates say the negotiation program is a promising step — but note that high drug costs remain a major burden today. Many Medicare patients still skip doses, delay refills, or struggle to pay for the medications they need right now.

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