President Trump officially launched the TrumpRx government website on Thursday, offering Americans the opportunity to access discounts on brand-name prescription medications when paying cash instead of using health insurance. At the unveiling, Trump described it as a significant advancement in healthcare, asserting, “It’s the biggest thing to happen in health care, I think, in many, many decades. You’re going to save a fortune.”
The introduction of TrumpRx comes amid a decline in the president’s poll numbers as the public expresses concerns about the rising cost of living. The administration has positioned TrumpRx as a cornerstone initiative aimed at enhancing affordability in healthcare. The website aims to tackle the issue that Americans typically pay more than four times as much for brand-name drugs compared to other countries, despite significant contributions from U.S. laboratories and hospitals toward drug research.
Trump’s plans for regulating drug prices have evolved since his 2016 campaign. He had previously suggested allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies—an action previously resisted by congressional Republicans. In 2020, he implemented a “most favored nation” pricing plan, intended to ensure the U.S. received the lowest price for certain medications via Medicare. Although a federal court blocked this move, Trump returned to the idea upon reentering office, issuing an executive order that pressured pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices voluntarily.
TrumpRx has faced delays but ultimately resulted from negotiations that reportedly secured agreements with 16 major drug manufacturers to align U.S. prices with those in other developed nations. However, the actual mechanism of TrumpRx is somewhat limited; users cannot purchase medications directly through the site. Instead, it directs users to pharmaceutical companies’ own websites or provides coupons for certain drugs to be used at local pharmacies.
The available discounts on TrumpRx range significantly, with instances such as 93% off Cetrotide, a medication used in fertility treatments, and 33% off Xeljanz, aimed at autoimmune disorders. However, it’s important to note that the discounts apply only to cash payments for brand-name drugs; insurance cannot be used, and generics are not included. In fact, the majority of Americans—about 310 million—hold health insurance, where co-pays for brand-name drugs are often lower than the cash prices offered through TrumpRx.
Currently, the site features 43 drugs, primarily supplied by five pharmaceutical companies that entered agreements with the administration. This selection pales in comparison to the broad offerings available on other drug discount platforms, such as GoodRx, which boasts over 6,000 drugs. The existing selection includes medications for diabetes like Ozempic and Wegovy, antibiotics, and various other treatments. The administration has indicated that additional discounted options from more pharmaceutical companies will become available in the coming months.
Despite its limitations, TrumpRx may benefit uninsured individuals or those whose insurance does not cover specific high-cost drugs, potentially allowing them to make more informed decisions about their medication purchases. As the initiative progresses, it holds the promise of making medications more financially accessible to certain segments of the population.