Your Guide to the 2026 Medicare Prescription Drug Discounts

If you’re on Medicare, you may have heard that big changes are coming to prescription drug costs. You came here to find out if your medications will be cheaper in 2026, and this guide will give you the clear, straightforward answers you need. We will explain exactly what is happening and list the first drugs set for a price reduction.

Understanding the New Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

For the first time ever, Medicare is now able to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers to lower the prices of some of the most expensive prescription medications. This new power comes from a law called the Inflation Reduction Act. The goal is simple: to make essential medications more affordable for millions of seniors who rely on them.

This negotiation process is a significant shift in how Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program, operates. In the past, prices were set by the pharmaceutical companies. Now, the government can step in and bargain for a fairer price on behalf of all Medicare beneficiaries.

The process is gradual. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started by identifying some of the costliest drugs that have been on the market for years without cheaper generic or biosimilar alternatives. The first round of negotiations began in 2023, but the new, lower prices that result from these talks will not go into effect until January 1, 2026.

The First 10 Drugs Selected for Price Negotiation

This is the most important part of the new program and the reason you clicked. Below is the official list of the first 10 drugs covered by Medicare Part D that were selected for price negotiation. If you take any of these medications, you are likely to see lower out-of-pocket costs beginning in 2026.

To make it easy to check, we have listed the brand name, the generic name (where applicable), and the common conditions each drug is used to treat.

• Eliquis (apixaban): Used to prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.
• Jardiance (empagliflozin): Used to treat type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with heart disease.
• Xarelto (rivaroxaban): Another medication used to prevent and treat blood clots, often prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke.
• Januvia (sitagliptin): A medication used to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
• Farxiga (dapagliflozin): Used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
• Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan): A combination medicine used to treat certain types of heart failure.
• Enbrel (etanercept): A biologic drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions.
• Imbruvica (ibrutinib): A targeted therapy medication used to treat certain types of blood cancers, like mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
• Stelara (ustekinumab): A biologic drug used for treating psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
• Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; Novolog; Novolog FlexPen; Novolog PenFill (insulin aspart): These are different brand names for fast-acting insulin products used to manage blood sugar in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

How to Check if Your Medications Are Included

The ad promised to show you how to check if your medications are on the discount list. The process is straightforward and involves just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Make a List of Your Current Prescriptions

The first thing you need is an accurate list of all the prescription drugs you currently take. You can find this information in a few places:

• Check your medication bottles: The labels will have the exact brand name and generic name of the drug.
• Ask your pharmacy: Your local pharmacy can provide you with a printout of your prescription history.
• Consult your doctor: Your doctor’s office has a record of every medication they have prescribed for you.
• Log into your Medicare plan’s portal: Your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan provider often has a section on their website where you can view your filled prescriptions.

Step 2: Compare Your List to the Official List

Once you have your list of medications, carefully compare it to the list of 10 drugs provided in the section above. Look for an exact match of the brand name. If you take one of these drugs, you are in the group of people who will benefit from these price negotiations starting in 2026.

Step 3: Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Whether your drug is on the list or not, it is always a good idea to discuss it with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can confirm the details and answer any specific questions you have about your treatment plan. They are your best resource for personal medical and prescription advice.

What If My Drug Isn't on This List?

If you reviewed the list and did not see your medication, do not be discouraged. This is only the beginning of the program. The Inflation Reduction Act has a clear timeline for adding more drugs to the negotiation list in the coming years.

• For 2027: Up to 15 more Part D drugs will be selected for negotiation.
• For 2028: Up to 15 more Part D and Part B drugs will be selected.
• For 2029 and beyond: Up to 20 more Part D and Part B drugs will be selected each year.

This means that even if your medication is not included now, it could be selected in a future round.

Furthermore, the Inflation Reduction Act includes other important cost-saving measures. For example, starting in 2025, there will be a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for people on Medicare Part D. This will provide significant financial protection for those with very high drug expenses, regardless of whether their specific medications have been negotiated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do anything to get the lower price in 2026? No. If you are prescribed one of the negotiated drugs, the lower price will be automatically applied through your Medicare Part D plan starting January 1, 2026. You do not need to fill out any forms or enroll in a new program.

Will these changes affect my Medicare Advantage plan? Yes. If your Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug coverage (which most do), it will incorporate the new, lower negotiated prices for these specific drugs.

Why were these specific 10 drugs chosen? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) selected these drugs based on several criteria. They are among the drugs with the highest total spending for Medicare Part D, have been on the market for a long time without competition from a generic version, and are taken by a large number of beneficiaries.