If your parent takes a brand-name drug for diabetes, COPD, cancer, or a stomach condition, check this list before picking a 2027 drug plan. On January 1, 2027, Medicare’s negotiated prices kick in for 15 more medications, and some of them are drugs a lot of older adults take every day.
Here’s the list, what the lower price does and doesn’t change at the pharmacy counter, and how the separate $50-a-month GLP-1 program fits in.
The 15 drugs, and how much the price drops
These are the prices Medicare negotiated with drug makers, compared with each drug’s 2024 list price, as released by CMS. Prices are for a month’s supply.
| Drug | Used for | 2024 list price | 2027 Medicare price | Drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy | Type 2 diabetes; heart risk reduction | $959 | $274 | 71% |
| Trelegy Ellipta | COPD, asthma | $654 | $175 | 73% |
| Breo Ellipta | COPD, asthma | $397 | $67 | 83% |
| Janumet, Janumet XR | Type 2 diabetes | $526 | $80 | 85% |
| Tradjenta | Type 2 diabetes | $488 | $78 | 84% |
| Linzess | IBS with constipation, chronic constipation | $539 | $136 | 75% |
| Xifaxan | IBS with diarrhea, liver-related confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) | $2,696 | $1,000 | 63% |
| Otezla, Otezla XR | Psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis | $4,722 | $1,650 | 65% |
| Vraylar | Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression | $1,376 | $770 | 44% |
| Austedo, Austedo XR | Tardive dyskinesia, Huntington's chorea | $6,623 | $4,093 | 38% |
| Ofev | Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | $12,622 | $6,350 | 50% |
| Xtandi | Prostate cancer | $13,480 | $7,004 | 48% |
| Ibrance | HR+/HER2- breast cancer | $15,741 | $7,871 | 50% |
| Calquence | Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other blood cancers | $14,228 | $8,600 | 40% |
| Pomalyst | Multiple myeloma | $21,744 | $8,650 | 60% |
CMS estimates these prices will save Medicare about $12 billion. About 5.3 million people on Medicare used at least one of these drugs in 2024.
These join the first 10 negotiated drugs, which got lower prices on January 1, 2026: Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and NovoLog/Fiasp insulin. Those prices continue in 2027.
What this changes at the pharmacy, and what it doesn’t
This is where a lot of headlines oversell it. The negotiated price is what Medicare plans pay for the drug. It isn’t automatically your parent’s copay.
What your parent pays still depends on their Part D or Medicare Advantage plan:
- If the plan charges a flat copay (say, $47 a month for a preferred brand), a lower drug price may not change that copay at all.
- If the plan charges coinsurance (a percentage of the drug’s price), your parent’s share drops along with the price. Twenty-five percent of $274 is a lot less than 25% of $959.
- During the deductible, your parent pays the plan’s price for the drug until the deductible is met. A lower price means less out of pocket in January and February.
- The $2,400 cap still applies. Once your parent pays $2,400 for covered drugs in 2027, they pay nothing more for covered drugs that year. For someone on an expensive cancer drug like Pomalyst or Xtandi, the cap matters more than the negotiated price. For someone on two or three of the cheaper drugs on this list, a lower price can mean never getting close to the cap.
The other thing to check is whether your parent’s plan still covers the drug, and at what tier. Plans set their own drug lists every year. Medicare requires plans to cover the negotiated drugs, but tier placement and rules like prior authorization can still vary.
The Ozempic and Wegovy question
Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy are the same medication (semaglutide) in different forms, and they’re on the list together. They’re also where families get confused, so here’s the short version.
- For type 2 diabetes, Medicare drug plans cover Ozempic and Rybelsus. The lower 2027 price applies.
- For heart risk, Medicare plans can cover Wegovy for people with heart disease who are overweight, to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- For weight loss alone, Part D plans still don’t cover these drugs. That’s where the GLP-1 Bridge comes in.
The $50-a-month GLP-1 Bridge
Separate from the negotiated prices, Medicare started a temporary program on July 1, 2026, called the GLP-1 Bridge. It runs through December 31, 2027.
What it covers: Wegovy (injection and pill), Zepbound KwikPen, and Foundayo, a GLP-1 pill. Other GLP-1 drugs aren’t included.
What it costs: $50 for a month’s supply.
Who qualifies: Your parent needs to be enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage, and meet one of these:
- A BMI of 35 or higher
- A BMI of 30 or higher plus heart failure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or kidney disease
- A BMI of 27 or higher plus a prior stroke, prior heart attack, prediabetes, or peripheral artery disease
How to get it: The doctor submits a prior authorization request. It has to confirm your parent has had lifestyle counseling (diet and activity). Once it’s approved and the pharmacy is notified, your parent can fill the prescription.
The fine print: The $50 copay doesn’t count toward the Part D deductible or the $2,400 cap, and Extra Help can’t lower it. If your parent is close to the cap from other drugs, run the numbers. Details are at Medicare.gov/glp1bridge or 1-800-MEDICARE.
The program ends December 31, 2027. Medicare has said it’s a bridge to a longer-term arrangement, but nothing is settled for 2028 yet.
How to use this list during open enrollment
Open enrollment runs through December 7, 2026. If your parent takes any drug on this list:
- Write down the exact drug name and dose. Ozempic 1 mg and Ozempic 2 mg can show different costs.
- Enter every prescription in Medicare’s Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare. It estimates the year’s total drug cost for each plan using 2027 prices, so the negotiated prices are already built in.
- Compare the yearly total, not the premium. A plan with a $0 premium and coinsurance on brand drugs can cost more than a $40 plan with flat copays, or less. The total tells you.
- Check the tier and any prior authorization for each drug in the plans you’re considering.
- Ask about the payment plan. If your parent will hit the $2,400 cap early, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan spreads those costs into monthly bills. Ask the new plan to enroll them.
- Get free help if it’s confusing. Illinois SHIP counselors will run the comparison with you at 1-800-252-8966 (TTY 711). They don’t sell plans.
If your parent’s Medicare Advantage plan is ending this year, this step matters even more. Read what to do when a Medicare Advantage plan ends for the deadlines.
Who might get the biggest break
Some situations where the 2027 prices are most likely to show up in your parent’s budget:
- COPD or asthma on Trelegy or Breo. These are maintenance inhalers used every day, and the price cuts are among the largest on the list.
- Type 2 diabetes on two brand drugs, such as Janumet plus Ozempic, especially in a plan that charges coinsurance.
- Anyone who pays coinsurance during the deductible. Lower prices in January and February mean less money out the door before coverage kicks in.
- People with limited income. If your parent struggles with drug costs, check Extra Help, which can lower premiums, deductibles and copays. SHIP can screen them in one call.
Related reading
- Medicare 2027 by the numbers: premiums, deductibles and caps
- What to do if your parent’s Medicare Advantage plan is ending
- Medicare Annual Notice of Change: the yearly review checklist
- Medicare Open Enrollment guide
- Medicare basics for caregivers
This article is general information for caregivers, not medical, financial, or insurance advice. Drug coverage and costs depend on your parent’s plan. Talk to their doctor before changing any medication, and confirm costs with the plan or a SHIP counselor.
Rules for benefits and legal documents vary by situation and change over time. This is general information — consider talking with an elder law attorney or your local Area Agency on Aging for guidance specific to your family.
Editorial Review Status
Reviewed for: CMS 2027 negotiated (maximum fair) prices, Medicare GLP-1 Bridge eligibility rules, Part D 2027 limits.
Elder care regulations, costs, and local provider availability change frequently. We commit to regular audits to ensure Gen X families have the most accurate data for the NW Chicago suburbs.
Disclaimer: This guide is educational only and is not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice. Confirm details with a qualified professional before making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which drugs have lower Medicare prices in 2027?
Fifteen drugs get Medicare-negotiated prices on January 1, 2027: Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy, Trelegy Ellipta, Xtandi, Pomalyst, Ibrance, Ofev, Linzess, Calquence, Austedo/Austedo XR, Breo Ellipta, Tradjenta, Xifaxan, Vraylar, Janumet/Janumet XR, and Otezla. They join the 10 drugs, including Eliquis and Jardiance, whose negotiated prices started in 2026.
Will my parent’s copay go down because of the negotiated prices?
Maybe. The negotiated price is what plans pay for the drug. If your parent’s plan charges coinsurance, or they’re still in the deductible, their cost should drop. If the plan charges a flat copay, it may stay the same. Medicare’s Plan Finder shows the estimated 2027 cost for each plan.
How much will Ozempic cost on Medicare in 2027?
Medicare’s negotiated price for Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy is $274 for a month’s supply, down from a 2024 list price of $959. What your parent pays depends on their plan’s copay or coinsurance, and the $2,400 yearly out-of-pocket cap.
Does Medicare cover Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss?
Regular Part D coverage still doesn’t cover drugs for weight loss alone. The temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, running July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, lets eligible people get Wegovy, Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo for $50 a month with prior authorization and BMI requirements.
Who qualifies for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
People enrolled in a Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan with a BMI of 35 or higher, a BMI of 30 or higher with heart failure, uncontrolled high blood pressure or kidney disease, or a BMI of 27 or higher with a prior stroke, prior heart attack, prediabetes or peripheral artery disease. The doctor must submit prior authorization confirming lifestyle counseling.
Does the $50 GLP-1 Bridge copay count toward the $2,400 cap?
No. The $50 monthly copay doesn’t count toward the Part D deductible or the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, and Extra Help can’t reduce it.
Sources: CMS negotiated prices for initial price applicability year 2027, as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review; PBS NewsHour; National Council on Aging, “Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program”; Medicare.gov; CMS 2027 Part D figures.