Given that the U.S. has a profit-centered healthcare system, it’s not surprising to see substantial increases in medication prices, whether it’s a weight-loss drug or blood thinners. But this is a reality that employers may need to start actively working against if they want a health plan employees can actually afford.
Nonprofit research company 46 Brooklyn found that pharmaceutical companies are raising prices for over 700 medications in January alone, with the average increase sitting at about 4.5%. Popular weight-loss drug Ozempic, for example, will see a price hike of 3.5%, while the antidepressant Wellbutrin will increase by 9.9%. Comparatively, an estimated 24 medications will drop in price, with insulin leading the pack after Medicare capped monthly prices were at $35.
