Exclusive: Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Social Security COLA 2.5 percent

Median drug price increase is 4 percent. Notice it's not the average.



I'm having a very hard time locating the complete list of 350 drugs for which prices are going up.



Sounds like TPTB and BIGPharma want to keep us in the dark

Follow the money . . . always follow the money

Exclusive: Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump​

By Michael Erman
January 1, 20269:47 PM CSTUpdated 13 hours ago

"NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medications including vaccines against COVID, RSV and shingles and blockbuster cancer treatment Ibrance, even as the Trump administration pressures them for cuts, according to data provided exclusively by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.
The number of price increases for 2026 is up from the same point last year, when drugmakers unveiled plans for raises on more than 250 drugs. The median of this year's price hikes is around 4% - in line with 2025."

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Exclusive: Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump

Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medications including vaccines against COVID, RSV and shingles and blockbuster cancer treatment Ibrance, even as the Trump administration pressures them for cuts, according to data provided exclusively by healthcare research firm 3...

www.reuters.com

 

[1LoverofGod]

I receive Medicare with my Social Security retirement but because my SS monthly income is below the poverty level, I qualify for Medicaid.
When it comes to healthcare or prescription drugs, I have never had to pay a copay or anything out of pocket. If my prescriptions were covered, Medicare paid their percentage first and Medicaid covered the rest

I received a letter a couple of months ago telling me there would be changes in 2026 with prescription drug coverage.
I now have to pay a percentage of co pay like a HMO coverage for my prescriptions.

Medicaid isnt covering 100% anymore nor picking up the total balance Medicare wont pay for.
I dont know how they think I will be able to pay for all of my medications. I was looking at my November explanation of benefits and just one of my medications for 30 day supply was over $600.00, the plan paid $400.00.
I have 5 maintenance medications.

 

[LydiaJoy]

Medicaid isnt covering 100% anymore nor picking up the total balance Medicare wont pay for.
I dont know how they think I will be able to pay for all of my medications. I was looking at my November explanation of benefits and just one of my medications for 30 day supply was over $600.00, the plan paid $400.00.
I have 5 maintenance medications.

What is the max out of pocket for a Duals Medicaid member?

 

[1LoverofGod]

What is the max out of pocket for a Duals Medicaid member?

Im still in the hospital so I dont have access to my letter. It isnt a major amount but when you have multiple prescription maintenance medications and then add other unexpected ones like antibiotics, the minimal amount adds up and for me if not for my temporary housing assistance help, which will end sometime this year due to lack of funding, I wouldn't get by on my SS income. I dont know if this only affects California Medi Cal, or if it affects other states Medicaid, but my letter came from CMS which is Medicare.

 

[mattfivefour]

No changes here in Illinois that we have been made aware of.

 

[Bethlehem57]

I receive Medicare with my Social Security retirement but because my SS monthly income is below the poverty level, I qualify for Medicaid.
When it comes to healthcare or prescription drugs, I have never had to pay a copay or anything out of pocket. If my prescriptions were covered, Medicare paid their percentage first and Medicaid covered the rest

I received a letter a couple of months ago telling me there would be changes in 2026 with prescription drug coverage.
I now have to pay a percentage of co pay like a HMO coverage for my prescriptions.

Medicaid isnt covering 100% anymore nor picking up the total balance Medicare wont pay for.
I dont know how they think I will be able to pay for all of my medications. I was looking at my November explanation of benefits and just one of my medications for 30 day supply was over $600.00, the plan paid $400.00.
I have 5 maintenance medications.

I went through the same rigmarole with a medication that I take, even though we have Federal BCBS as secondary to Medicare. Luckily, I called Fed BCBS and she was able to work around it, so I can afford it!

I don’t know if anything has changed with where our medications are made….last I heard they were still being made in China

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I went through the same rigmarole with a medication that I take, even though we have Federal BCBS as secondary to Medicare. Luckily, I called Fed BCBS and she was able to work around it, so I can afford it!

I don’t know if anything has changed with where our medications are made….last I heard they were still being made in China

Some are, some aren't. Ditto ingredients.

My prescriptions . . .

All the manufacturer bottles I've gotten for Eliquis have indicated either Ireland or Switzerland. The one bottle I got that was from a generic supplier used the generic name Apixaban and didn't indicate origin. No generic Eliquis on the market (yet).

The prescription Ergocalciferol the VA switched to is made in India. The product the VA used to issue was made in the U.S. Same named ingredients, but a LOT more dye in the version from India.

Cytomel manufacturered in the USA.

(Authorized) generic Tirosint (aka Levothyroxine capsules) made in Switzerland. Name-brand Tirosint and generic have Identical appearance and ingredients, and made in the same factory

 

[Bethlehem57]

Some are, some aren't. Ditto ingredients.

My prescriptions . . .

All the manufacturer bottles I've gotten for Eliquis have indicated either Ireland or Switzerland. The one bottle I got that was from a generic supplier used the generic name Apixaban and didn't indicate origin. No generic Eliquis on the market (yet).

The prescription Ergocalciferol the VA switched to is made in India. The product the VA used to issue was made in the U.S. Same named ingredients, but a LOT more dye in the version from India.

Cytomel manufacturered in the USA.

(Authorized) generic Tirosint (aka Levothyroxine capsules) made in Switzerland. Name-brand Tirosint and generic have Identical appearance and ingredients, and made in the same factory

I’m glad that you told me about this! I set off to see where the generic Vyvanse is manufactured and it’s one that’s in the US, however, I also found out that it’s not my imagination that the generic isn’t working as the original Vyvanse did. Insurance companies, of course, push you over to the generic, but, as in the case of this medicine, many people report that the generic is not as effective as the name brand. I found this site -
MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form. where you can provide data if the generic drug you’re taking isn’t as effective as the original and how to get your doctor to help so that you can get the right medication despite what the insurance company wants. They (insurance) wields way too much power in your treatment plans

Once you or your doctor has filed a report, you can try to see if you can convince your insurance company to cover the brand-name drug for you. Dr. Sultan says, “you can plead with the insurance company for why you need a brand medication, … but the insurance company, of course, makes it an administrative chore for the patient and us [doctors].”

Here’s the site I found where you can check to see if the generic versions of any medicines you take have issues: Investigating Generics Archives - MedShadow Foundation

There’s a lot of other useful information there about recalls in meds and FDA info about a number of issues with meds.

And at the crux of insurance companies having so much power, I started digging into the “ACÁ.” “Oh what a tangled web we weave/ When first we practice to deceive,“ - Sir Walter Scott. The deception coming from the author of the ACÁ - Obama.

And that’s where I’ll stop - “if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothing at all!”

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I’m glad that you told me about this! I set off to see where the generic Vyvanse is manufactured and it’s one that’s in the US, however, I also found out that it’s not my imagination that the generic isn’t working as the original Vyvanse did. Insurance companies, of course, push you over to the generic, but, as in the case of this medicine, many people report that the generic is not as effective as the name brand. I found this site -
MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form. where you can provide data if the generic drug you’re taking isn’t as effective as the original and how to get your doctor to help so that you can get the right medication despite what the insurance company wants. They (insurance) wields way too much power in your treatment plans

Once you or your doctor has filed a report, you can try to see if you can convince your insurance company to cover the brand-name drug for you. Dr. Sultan says, “you can plead with the insurance company for why you need a brand medication, … but the insurance company, of course, makes it an administrative chore for the patient and us [doctors].”

Here’s the site I found where you can check to see if the generic versions of any medicines you take have issues: Investigating Generics Archives - MedShadow Foundation

There’s a lot of other useful information there about recalls in meds and FDA info about a number of issues with meds.

And at the crux of insurance companies having so much power, I started digging into the “ACÁ.” “Oh what a tangled web we weave/ When first we practice to deceive,“ - Sir Walter Scott. The deception coming from the author of the ACÁ - Obama.

And that’s where I’ll stop - “if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothing at all!”

For a long time, the military and VA made certain name-brand thyroid and heart medications were available and that docs could specify them when prescribing. However, alas . . .


I've definitely found HUGE differences between name-brand and generic thyroid medications.

Fortunately, if the only issue is effectiveness, the dose can be adjusted for the needed effect.

Unfortunately, in some cases, the "inert" ingredients have caused problems. Lucky for me, that created a medical necessity for name-brand Synthroid (T4) instead of generic Levothyroxine (T4), while I was in the military and later, from the VA. Note, when I first got here, another a wonderful woman Endocrinologist, who retired at the beginning of covid, switched me to dual therapy Synthroid (T4) / Cytomel (T3), which was absolutely life-changing).

Now, the VA here has quit Synthroid due to cost). Since the issue with the generic Levothyroxine (T4) still exists, and would be even worse with the VA's new selected generic T4, the Endocrinologist kindly prescribed the generic of a new, very different product (generic Tirosint, aka Levothyroxine capsules) (T4), which is clean, simple, and exceptionally smooth

The only issue with the new T4 is that my dose was reduced because the VA doesn't have all the strengths the manufacturer makes to closely approximate my previous Synthroid (T4) dose Additionally, either the new medication is at the bottom of the range allowed for a narrow-therapeutic range medication, and/or my body is absorbing and using it faster/better, so I need more of it to last until next thyroid dose. Unfortunately, the VA doesn't have the smallest size dose available from the manufacturer to increase the dose a little bit, and too much T4 causes afib problems, so stuck at an inadequate dose for the generic Tirosint (T4). Fortunately, the difference can be made up with more Cytomel (T3), which doesn't cause afib issues and is actually a better ratio for me in many ways (not just thyroid-wise)

Unfortunately, any dosing with Cytomel (T3) causes TSH to be suppressed and lab results that my doc doesn't interpret properly because he's a T4 monotherapy proponent and tries to go by TSH results

It's been a giant pain in the neck for 37+ years, but God has surely watched over me through this whole thyroid mess, all the way back to 1988, when I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer


FWIW, I've been issued two different generic Cytomel (T3) (aka Liothyronine). One was very rough and inferior, and the other was actually smoother and a little better than the name-brand Cytomel (T3).


Over-the-counter (OTC) medications also exhbit the same differences between name-brand and generic/store brand. Diferent "inert" ingredients, colors, sweeteners, etc., etc., etc.

Name-brand Abreva definitely works far better than generic/store brand. The tube works better than the pump, as well.

Equate (WalMart) and Walgreen's generic acetaminophen work as well as name-brand Tylenol, but other generics I've tried don't (for fever). The generics actually work better for some headaches and other pain than name-brand Tylenol (comparing caplets to caplets). IDK about capsules.

Generic diphenhydramine contains blue dye #1, to which I'm allergic, but at least one form (UltraTabs) of the name-brand Benadryl doesn't.

Walgreen's generic Levocetirizine works as well as name-brand Xyzal.

​

 

[Tall Timbers]

It's been a giant pain in the neck for 37+ years, but God has surely watched over me

And all this time I thought generics were identical to the name brand.

Allergies must really complicate things sometimes. I'm allergic to something in amoxycillan but not the actual antibiotic itself. I've no idea what's in it that I'm allergic to.

 

[Batman]

Big Pharma will find a way to make bank!

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

And all this time I thought generics were identical to the name brand.

Allergies must really complicate things sometimes. I'm allergic to something in amoxycillan but not the actual antibiotic itself. I've no idea what's in it that I'm allergic to.

Drugs.com Generic vs Brand Drugs: Your FAQs Answered

Generic vs Brand Drugs: Your FAQs Answered

Here we answer generic vs brand name medicine FAQs like: What is a generic drug? Are generics and branded generics the same? Is a biosimilar a generic?

www.drugs.com

FDA Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers

Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers

Generic Drugs: Q & A

www.fda.gov

Drugs.com has been my primary go-to for initial researching of prescribed drugs, potential prescriptions, drug ingredients, and drug-drug and drug-supplement interactions. Both patient and professional information on the site, pill identifier, etc. You can get a free account and set up a medication list and keep it updated and keep a print-out for emergencies or for when visiting a doctor. Much easier and complete than MyHealtheVet.

Drugs.com – Know More. Be Sure.

Search 24,000+ prescription, OTC, and natural medications. Peer-reviewed, clinically sourced drug information for safer, smarter health decisions.

www.drugs.com

DrugBank Canada has better biochemical information than Drugs.com, and sometimes lists more supplement interactions with a medication. Sometimes, it lists an interaction, which is not noted on U.S. websites (drugs.com, PDR.net, etc.). Example, Levothyroxine and Apixaban. The information is now easy to locate on DrugBank, but when it wasn't, I had to look in the biochemical actions of both medications to determone why I was having a problem with the two medications when taken as prescribed in the usual order and spacing. Simple reversal of the order alleviated the problem. However, this solution wasn't evident with the information on U.S. sites. A free account is needed to use this website more than just superficially due to changes this past year.

DrugBank | Biopharma Intelligence

Trusted intelligence operating system built on the most comprehensive biomedical knowledge base. Access data on drugs, targets, diseases, trials, and more, powering drug discovery and clinical decision-making.

go.drugbank.com

Sometimes, a trip to PDR.net (Physician's Desk Reference) or the drug manufacturer's website is necessary to obtain the "inert" ingredients.
iHerb is a good place to read the labeled ingredients on OTC/supplements.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Big Pharma will find a way to make bank!

I don't mind businesses making a profit. It's necessary to staying in business, developing and marketing new products, etc.
However, I do mind American businesses making an obscene profit, especially when Americans pay more for the same product than others around the world, including in wealthy, developed nations.