On November 25, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced significant price reductions for 15 high-cost prescription drugs used by millions of Medicare beneficiaries. That's a major win for older Americans.
The negotiated "maximum fair prices," made possible by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, promise to save the program $12 billion annually compared with last year's Medicare spending on 15 widely used drugs to treat cancer and other serious chronic conditions that hit older adults hardest.
Previously, the Biden administration reached deals to lower the costs of 10 prescription drugs, including several for heart disease and diabetes, which are set to take effect in 2026. This latest round of price negotiations will go into effect in 2027, with seniors expected to see an estimated $685 million in out-of-pocket relief.
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Historically, prescription drug costs have wreaked havoc on many seniors' budgets, with some rationing doses or skipping their meds altogether due to high costs, according to a survey by research group KFF.
For the roughly 5.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who take these 15 medications, and the new $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap in Medicare Part D, starting in 2026, 2027 can’t come soon enough.
For decades, Medicare was prohibited by law from negotiating drug prices directly with manufacturers, resulting in older Americans paying two to four times what patients in Europe or Canada paid for the same medicines.
Seniors like 72-year-old retiree Ryan Whitworth of Florida, who relies on Xtandl for prostate cancer, could see his monthly copays halved. “Finally, I won’t have to choose between meds and groceries,” he told Kiplinger.
Below is the full list of the 15 drugs and their new Medicare maximum fair prices compared with the 2024 list prices. All figures are for a typical 30-day supply. The numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar where applicable.
Drug Name | Commonly Treated Conditions | 2024 List Price | 2027 Medicare Price | % Reduction |
Ozempic; Rybelsus; Wegovy | Type 2 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes & cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular disease & obesity/overweight | $959 | $274 | -71% |
Trelegy Ellipta | Asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | $654 | $175 | -73% |
Xtandi | Prostate cancer | $13,480 | $7,004 | -48% |
Pomalyst | Kaposi sarcoma; Multiple myeloma | $21,744 | $8,650 | -60% |
Ofev | Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | $12,622 | $6,350 | -50% |
Ibrance | Breast cancer | $15,741 | $7,871 | -50% |
Linzess | Chronic idiopathic constipation; irritable bowel syndrome with constipation | $539 | $136 | -75% |
Calquence | Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma; Mantle cell lymphoma | $14,228 | $8,600 | -40% |
Austedo; Austedo XR | Chorea in Huntington’s disease; Tardive dyskinesia | $6,623 | $4,093 | -38% |
Breo Ellipta | Asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | $397 | $67 | -83% |
Xifaxan | Hepatic encephalopathy; Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea | $2,696 | $1,000 | -63% |
Vraylar | Bipolar 1 disorder; Major depressive disorder; Schizophrenia | $1,376 | $770 | -44% |
Tradjenta | Type 2 diabetes | $488 | $78 | -84% |
Janumet; Janumet XR | Type 2 diabetes | $526 | $80 | -85% |
Otezla; Otezla XR | Oral ulcers in Behçet’s Disease; Plaque psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis | $4,722 | $1,650 | -65% |
The “2024 List Price” column shows the gross Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) that Medicare Part D plans were charged in 2024 for a 30-day supply, before any rebates or discounts.
The “2027 Medicare Price” column is the Maximum Fair Price (MFP) manufacturers must offer Medicare starting January 1, 2027, for a 30-day supply.
Sources: CMS, November 2025 (pdf); Medicare prescription drug affordability fact sheet; Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Negotiated Prices for Initial Price Applicability, Year 2027 (pdf)
List prices reflect typical Part D gross costs before rebates.
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- Brace for Higher Health Costs in 2026: A Look at Projected Medicare Premiums
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