Government portal promises dramatic discounts, but experts question real-world affordability for insured patients
The Trump administration launched TrumpRx.gov on Thursday evening, a government-run portal connecting cash-paying patients with pharmaceutical manufacturers offering discounted prescription drugs. The website went live with 43 brand-name medications from 5 companies, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, that struck “Most Favored Nation” pricing deals with the administration. The White House says that discounts from the other 11 companies that struck deals will be available through TrumpRx.gov in the coming months.
“People are going to save a lot of money and be healthy,” Trump said at the launch event, calling it “the largest reduction in prescription drug prices in history.”
How It Works
TrumpRx doesn’t sell medications directly. The site integrates with GoodRx for price hosting and connects patients to manufacturers’ existing platforms like Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect or Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare. Users search for medications, view discounts compared to list prices, and either print coupons for use at participating retail pharmacies or purchase directly from manufacturer websites.
Users search for medications, view discounts compared to list prices, and either print coupons or purchase directly from manufacturer websites.
Key Pricing Examples
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs:
- Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy: $199-$349/month (from $1,349 list price)
- Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill: $149-$299/month
- Eli Lilly’s Zepbound: $299-$449/month
- Ozempic: $199/month (from $1,000+)
Other medications:
- AstraZeneca’s Bevespi inhaler: $51
- Pfizer’s Xeljanz (rheumatoid arthritis): $1,518
- EMD Serono’s Gonal F (fertility): 84% reduction for standard IVF cycle
Displayed discounts range from 33% to 93%, though these compare cash prices to list prices—not what patients actually pay through insurance.
The Critical Limitation
TrumpRx’s biggest problem: cash payments don’t count toward insurance deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. Patients could spend hundreds monthly without reducing their annual deductible, potentially making insurance the cheaper long-term option.
“There is a real question about the value of this for people with insurance,” said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director for Medicare policy at KFF. “In some cases, we could be looking at out-of-pocket costs that are still relatively unaffordable for a lot of people.”
Research shows a significant number of patients stop filling prescriptions once monthly costs exceed approximately $100. Even with substantial TrumpRx discounts, many medications remain well above this threshold.
Who Actually Benefits?
Experts agree the impact will be limited initially, with the uninsured most likely to benefit.
“TrumpRx might support access and affordability for a very small number of people,” said Rena Conti, associate professor at Boston University Questrom School of Business.
For insured patients, the calculation depends on deductible size, specific drugs, and insurance formulary coverage. High-deductible plan holders may find direct purchasing worthwhile; those with smaller deductibles likely won’t.
The Obesity Drug Exception
The direct-to-consumer model has proven particularly successful for GLP-1 weight-loss medications, where insurance coverage remains limited. Prescriptions via Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare account for approximately 30% of total Wegovy prescriptions, with 90% of new Wegovy pill prescriptions coming through the platform.
Eli Lilly reported over 1 million patients engaged with LillyDirect in 2025, with Zepbound self-pay vials constituting one-third of new patients starting any brand-name obesity drug.
“I don’t think people are as excited to pay for blood thinners out of pocket,” noted Evan Seigerman, senior pharmaceutical analyst at BMO Capital Markets. “They want their insurance to pay for it.”
Industry Impact
The pricing agreements have already hit pharmaceutical revenues. Pfizer disclosed its 2026 sales guidance was hurt by the “unfavorable impact” of its deal. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly reported lower prices for weight-loss drugs have blunted sales.
The launch intensified competition in the weight-loss market. Telehealth company Hims & Hers announced Thursday it would sell a version of Wegovy for $49 monthly, compared to Novo’s $149 rate through TrumpRx. Novo immediately threatened legal action, accusing Hims & Hers of “illegal mass compounding.”
Misleading Metrics?
Healthcare experts question the administration’s discount calculations. TrumpRx compares cash prices to list prices, which often don’t reflect what insured patients pay. Once deductibles are met, patients typically pay much smaller copays, meaning displayed discount percentages may inflate actual savings.
Some TrumpRx medications are already available at comparable prices elsewhere. GoodRx lists Pfizer’s Duavee at $30.30—identical to the TrumpRx price.
While the website claims “the world’s lowest prices on prescription drugs,” a 2023 Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker analysis found Ozempic costing under $100 in four countries—potentially lower than TrumpRx pricing.
A Positive Development
Express Scripts reached a settlement with the FTC on Wednesday over accusations of artificially inflating insulin prices. Under the agreement, Express Scripts will count payments its members make through TrumpRx toward their deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, provided certain legislative or regulatory changes are made.
This could establish a precedent for other PBMs, potentially addressing TrumpRx’s major limitation.
Political Context
Trump has positioned drug pricing as a key response to voter anxiety over affordability heading into November’s midterm elections. However, the launch comes as millions face massive insurance rate increases after Congress failed to extend Covid-era ACA premium tax credits that expired in December 2025.
The pharmaceutical industry spent a record $187 million on lobbying in 2025, underscoring the sector’s continued political influence despite administration pressure.
The Verdict
The administration promises more drugs will be added to TrumpRx, though some medications announced in manufacturer deals—such as Merck’s Januvia for $100—weren’t listed at launch.
Success will depend on whether additional insurers follow Express Scripts in counting TrumpRx purchases toward deductibles, how many manufacturers join the platform, and whether prices prove genuinely competitive with existing alternatives.
For now, TrumpRx appears most useful for the uninsured and patients seeking obesity medications with limited insurance coverage. For the majority of insured Americans, the complex interplay of deductibles, copays, and annual out-of-pocket maximums means their existing insurance may still offer better value—despite the administration’s claims of historic savings.
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