Most individuals in the US are concerned about prescription drug affordability. For patients facing co-insurance (a percentage of the drug price), out-of-pocket burden increases when list prices increase, as they have for brand-name drugs over the last decade. Manufacturer rebates and discounts, which have also increased, reduce net drug prices but are rarely shared with patients at the pharmacy counter. Moreover, growing rebates and discounts may further increase list prices, exacerbating out-of-pocket burden for patients with co-insurance. Patients with co-payments, which are flat fees, are largely shielded from these dynamics.
The full study can be viewed at JAMA. A press release on the study is available here.
Trish E, Blaylock B, Van Nuys K. Cost Sharing for Preferred Branded Drugs in Medicare Part D. JAMA. Published online February 14, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.28092
