A brace to pay more in 2020 for these 26 orders
This year there have been price increases for over 600 drugs, including these commonly prescribed drugs.
At the beginning of each year drug price increases tend to occur, and according to GoodRx 2020 is no exception.
These annual rises in drug prices are traceable throughout the website, which includes prescription drug prices from pharmacies across the country.
Throughout January the GoodRx Research Team tracked in 2020 price increases of drugs and generic medicines for over 3,500 brand names, finding that average prices of 639 drugs were up by 6% during that period.
They include:
- 619 medicines of brand name, which averaged 5.2 percent in price
- 20 generic medicines with an average of 29.4 percent price increase
In January 2019, GoodRx found that 486 branded drugs had an average price increase of 5.2 percent and in January 2018, 580 drugs with brand names had increased by 8 percent, which is higher than in the previous two years. This figure is higher.
The analysis shows that Marplan, which was used to treat depression, has achieved the biggest price rise of branded medicines by 2020 by 14.9 percent so far.
26 common drugs price rises
GoodRx says that the greatest increases in prescription medications so far this year include:
- Xifaxan: 7.9%
- Diazepam (generic Valium): 7.8%
- Creon: 7.4%
- Enbrel: 7.4%
- Humira: 7.4%
- Cosentyx: 7%
- Entresto: 7%
- Eliquis: 6%
- Jardiance: 6%
- Qvar: 6%
- Spiriva: 6%
- Tecfidera: 6%
- Tradjenta: 6%
- Gilenya: 5.5%
- Travatan Z: 5.5%
- Myrbetriq: 5.4%
- Armour Thyroid: 5%
- Bystolic: 5%
- Chantix: 5%
- Lo Loestrin FE: 5%
- Ozempic: 5%
- Premarin: 5%
- Trintellix: 5%
- Victoza: 5%
- Viibryd: 5%
- Vyvanse: 5%
GoodRx follows the price list that manufacturers set for their pharmaceutical products.
Note that list prices generally differ from prices consumers end up paying for their prescriptions — although list prices remain a kind of barometer.
As explained by GoodRx:
“In fact, a couple of patients pay the cost, as their health insurance is typically protected. However, the list price remains a good drug-price proxy. Essentially, rising list prices lead to higher patient bags.
Why do prescription drug prices increase?
According to a study published in “Health Affairs” in 2019, reasons for the increase in drug prices depend on the type of drug.
The research was based on an analysis every year, between 2008 and 2016, of drug prices (including mouth prices and drugs injected).
The increase in the prices of generic and medicinal products is mainly driven by new products — the increase can mainly be attributed to the introduction of new medicinal products into the market — the study found.
Increases in prices for brand name medicinal products are mainly driven by inflation in prices.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician.
