Savings Available Now for Drugs Awaiting Medicare Price Cuts in 2027

Prescription drug costs in the U.S. remain one of the biggest financial burdens for millions of Americans—including Medicare beneficiaries. More than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries report difficulty affording their prescription medications, and 14% aged 65 or older skip taking or do not fill their prescriptions due to cost.

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, giving Medicare the authority to negotiate the prices of certain high-cost, single-source drugs for the first time. Before this, Medicare was legally barred from negotiating drug prices — another nonsensical and enraging result of industry interference in policy that should center people over profit. The first round of negotiated prices will take effect in 2026, and a second batch of negotiations is underway for prices set to change in 2027. That’s two years away—leaving many patients searching for savings now. 

PharmacyChecker's analysis of the 2027 batch of Medicare-negotiated drugs shows that patients can save an average of 61% off U.S. retail pharmacy prices by comparing prices on PharmacyChecker.com. For medications available through international online pharmacies, the average savings increase to 80%.

At PharmacyChecker, we provide information that can help patients and their caregivers evaluate safe, more affordable medication today. In this post, specifically, we look to compare the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program’s targeted drugs’ cash retail prices to current savings options published on PharmacyChecker.com.

Related: International Online Pharmacies Offer Relief as Medicare Prices Remain Sky-High 

Which Medicare Drugs Are Set for Lower Prices in 2027? 

In its second round of negotiations, Medicare has selected 15 high-cost drugs covered under Part D, including popular treatments for diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. These drugs account for a staggering $40.7 billion in total Medicare spending and are used by over 5.2 million beneficiaries. The price negotiation process for this batch of drugs has begun, with final Maximum Fair Prices set to be published by November 2025.

Source: CMS.gov 

Will You Actually Save Money from Medicare Drug Negotiations?

A Historic Reform, But Not an Immediate Fix

While the Inflation Reduction Act marks a major step forward in tackling drug prices, negotiated savings won’t take effect until 2027 for this batch of drugs. In fact, that’s quite a common critique of the negotiation program. Its gradual rollout means that many patients will not see the immediate relief they so desperately need. With only a limited number of drugs subject to negotiation each year, substantial patient savings may not materialize for several years. 

Will Medicare Beneficiaries Actually Pay Less?

Some critics say that the negotiated pricing is designed to reduce federal expenditures rather than directly lowering costs for patients. You wouldn’t know that by the patient advocacy and media attention the IRA has received! Patients are expecting lower costs to be reflected in their wallets. The truth is that the program lacks explicit mechanisms to ensure that negotiated savings are passed on to Medicare beneficiaries.

The Cost Burden Extends Beyond Medicare

While the Medicare negotiations could eventually reduce drug costs for Medicare enrollees, even after the negotiated prices take effect, millions of Americans with private insurance, high deductibles, or no coverage at all will still face exorbitant medication costs – a well-documented, and too-common problem. Nearly one in four U.S. adults are underinsured, meaning they have health coverage but still face high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. This financial strain leads many to skip necessary medical care or incur medical debt. Families with chronic conditions enrolled in high-deductible health plans experience significant financial burdens, with nearly 48% reporting difficulties in paying medical bills.

What Patients and Caregivers Can Do Right Now to Save on Brand Name Prescription Drugs

If you take one of these brand name medications, you don’t have to wait until 2027 to find lower prices. PharmacyChecker recommends patients in the United States:

1. Check eligibility for drug-specific manufacturer copayment cards - NeedyMeds
2. Check eligibility for patient assistance programs - NeedyMeds, RxAssist, HealthWell Foundation, Patient Access Network Foundation
3. Compare U.S. discount coupons and international pharmacy prices - PharmacyChecker.com

If you believe you may be eligible for patient assistance programs, we encourage you to investigate those alternatives before resorting to cash pay. 

Related: How Clinicians Can Assist Patients with Unaffordable Prescription Drug Costs

PharmacyChecker.com allows users to compare both international mail-order prices and U.S. pharmacy discount coupons, helping patients maximize their savings on both brand-name and generic drugs. 

PharmacyChecker for Safely Comparing International Savings Options

PharmacyChecker is recognized in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) as a trusted resource for identifying reputable online pharmacies that provide high-quality prescription drugs at lower prices. According to JAMA, international online pharmacies stand out as a vital option for patients requiring expensive brand-name drugs, particularly when domestic options remain unaffordable. In the United States, technically, it is prohibited to import unapproved medication, whether through purchase over the Internet or while on a trip to a foreign country. However, it is important to know that people in the U.S. are not prosecuted for doing so, as long as the non-controlled medication imported is for their own use, obtained via a valid prescription, under a 90-day supply, and not for resale.

Below, PharmacyChecker has analyzed prices for the list of Medicare drugs being negotiated this year, comparing average U.S. cash prices with the best available savings option on PharmacyChecker.com, which includes discount coupons and international pharmacy prices.

We found that users of PharmacyChecker.com can save an average of 61% off the retail pharmacy price in the United States by comparing prices on PharmacyChecker.com. For drugs with international online pharmacy availability, the average savings increases to 80%. 

Tradjenta, a type 2 diabetes drug, is 22 times more expensive at U.S. retail pharmacies compared to when ordered through an international online pharmacy. Patients can save up to 95% if they compare prices on PharmacyChecker.com. 

Popular off-label weight loss drug, Ozempic, can be obtained for 12% off the retail price via a discount coupon published on PharmacyChecker.com. 

PharmacyChecker Price Comparison: Savings Available Today For Drugs Up For Medicare Negotiated Pricing in 2027

Sources: Average U.S. retail prices are those published on Drugs.com, which applies their own Drugs.com discount card to the drug cost. International Online Pharmacy prices are the lowest listed on PharmacyChecker.com by pharmacies accredited and continuously monitored in the PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program. Discount Coupon prices are the lowest listed in the zip code 10605 on PharmacyChecker.com. 

Why isn’t there an International Online Pharmacy option for my prescribed drug? 

For some drugs, you may notice that the best cash savings method available is a “Discount Coupon on PharmacyChecker.com” – with perhaps a disappointing savings discount as compared to the “International Online Pharmacy” savings method. Why doesn’t PharmacyChecker list international online pharmacy pricing for these drugs? 

Where is the International Online Pharmacy Option for Ozempic & Wegovy? 

Ozempic and Wegovy are temperature-sensitive medications that require cold chain management during shipment to maintain their efficacy and safety. To ensure the cold chain integrity of refrigerated pharmaceutical products both domestically and internationally, PharmacyChecker-accredited dispensing pharmacies must ensure that shipments are not exposed to temperatures below 2°C or above 8°C. The PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program (IPVP) enforces rigorous standards for the international shipment of products requiring refrigeration. Only PharmacyChecker-accredited dispensing pharmacies located in Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States that also hold PharmacyChecker cold chain certification are authorized to dispense and/or ship refrigerated products into the United States. As of this writing, none of the online pharmacies in the IPVP partner with dispensing pharmacies that hold PharmacyChecker cold chain certification.

For detailed policy on the shipment of refrigerated products, please see: PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program Policies: 16-03 Refrigerated Medications: Shipping Requirements

Where is the International Online Pharmacy Option for Pomalyst?

What about the anti-cancer medication, Pomalyst? Pomalidomide (the active ingredient in Pomalyst) is considered teratogenic – aka a drug that can cause birth defects. It is approved as a prescription-only medicine in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Prescribers and pharmacies that treat patients with or dispense pomalidomide n the United States must be certified in the Pomalyst REMS program and patients must be enrolled in the Pomalyst REMS program. According to PharmacyChecker IPVP standards, “If located outside the U.S, pharmacy must not market, sell, process or dispense internationally medications identified by the US FDA as REMS medications with additional “Elements to Assure Safe Use” (ETASU) requirements related to dispensing, such as restricted distribution or pharmacy registration, as international pharmacies are not recognized as participants by the U.S. FDA.”

To view the policy on dispensing REMS medicines, please see: PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program Policies: 16-02 Medications Requiring Special Dispensing Considerations

Where is the International Online Pharmacy Option for Austedo?

Austedo and Austedo XR (deutetrabenazine), used to ease chorea from Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesia, are approved as prescription-only medicines in the United States. Deutetrabenazine is also approved for chorea from Huntington's disease in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, and China. Why isn’t international online pharmacy an option for savings? 

“That’s a good question,” says Ross Phan, PharmD, Director of the PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program. Dr. Phan notes that Austedo is not a controlled substance, it isn’t a refrigerated product, and it is not a REMS medicine with additional ETASU requirements, all of which would put the product under careful scrutiny and greater restrictions under the PharmacyChecker standards. The explanation is only that, as of this writing, international online pharmacies in the PC IPVP do not list prices for Austedo or Austedo XR.

The risks associated with deutetrabenazine include depression, suicidality, and drug-drug interactions; Teva, Austedo’s manufacturer, did not submit a REMS with this application for the drug back in 2015 but did propose routine pharmacovigilance.

See: Austedo’s REMS evaluation by the Division of Risk Management (DRISK) 

Final Thoughts

The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is an important step toward making medications more affordable for seniors, but it only applies to those enrolled in Medicare. For millions of Americans who are uninsured, underinsured, or on high-deductible plans, we sorely need more comprehensive reform. Consumers deserve a choice when it comes to their medications and should enjoy the commonsense systems and competition the Internet has fueled across all industry sectors. 

Related: PharmacyChecker Advocacy: Online Access & Personal Drug Importation

Whether you're on Medicare, uninsured, or facing high out-of-pocket costs, PharmacyChecker can help you compare prices and find real savings solutions. Don't wait until 2027—take control of your prescription costs now.

Related: How Patients Can Save on Prescription Drug Costs in 2025