The Medications That Got Dramatically More Expensive This Year — And What You Can Do Right Now
Every January, it happens like clockwork. Drug companies file their annual price increases, the healthcare press reports on it briefly, and then most people go back to their lives — until they get to the pharmacy counter and feel the impact firsthand.
In 2024, the pharmaceutical industry raised prices on more than 500 medications in January alone. Some of those increases were modest. Others were not. And while the Inflation Reduction Act has started to apply some pressure on Medicare drug prices, the majority of Americans on commercial insurance or paying out of pocket are still largely at the mercy of what manufacturers decide to charge.
This isn't an abstract policy problem. It's a kitchen table crisis for millions of families. Here's a look at which drugs saw the sharpest increases this year, what that means in real dollars, and — most importantly — what you can actually do about it.
The Drugs That Jumped Hardest in 2024
The following medications saw price increases that drew attention from patient advocates, lawmakers, and healthcare researchers this year. Prices vary by pharmacy, plan, and location — but these are real increases affecting real people.
1. Humira (adalimumab) Humira remained one of the most expensive drugs in the country even as biosimilars entered the market. AbbVie raised its list price again in 2024, keeping the brand-name version above $7,000 per month. The good news: biosimilar alternatives like Hadlima and Hyrimoz are now available and can cost significantly less — but patients need to ask specifically.
2. Lantus (insulin glargine) Despite high-profile commitments from Sanofi to cap insulin prices, some patients on specific plans or without insurance still face steep costs. Generic and biosimilar insulin options exist, but navigating them requires knowing what to ask.
3. Eliquis (apixaban) Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer's blood thinner saw another price bump in 2024. With no generic currently available in the US (though that's expected to change), patients without strong insurance coverage can pay $600 or more per month. For a medication people often take indefinitely for stroke prevention, that's a punishing cost.
4. Jardiance (empagliflozin) This diabetes and heart failure medication has climbed steadily in price. It's effective, widely prescribed, and expensive — often exceeding $550 per month without insurance or assistance.
5. Skyrizi (risankizumab) Used for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Skyrizi crossed the $20,000 per month threshold in 2024. Even with insurance, specialty drug cost-sharing can leave patients paying thousands annually.
6. Xarelto (rivaroxaban) Another blood thinner with no generic, Xarelto has seen consistent annual price increases. Patients paying out of pocket can face costs of $500 or more monthly.
7. Dupixent (dupilumab) A blockbuster for eczema, asthma, and nasal polyps, Dupixent remained one of the most expensive specialty drugs on the market in 2024, with list prices approaching $4,000 per month.
8. Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir) Gilead's HIV treatment saw another increase, with list prices now exceeding $4,500 per month. For a medication that people living with HIV often take for life, even small percentage increases compound dramatically over time.
9. Keytruda (pembrolizumab) Merck's cancer immunotherapy continued its climb, with some formulations now listed above $15,000 per month. Cancer patients navigating this cost on top of everything else face an almost impossible situation.
10. Ozempic (semaglutide) Yes, it's on this list too. Despite the ongoing national conversation about GLP-1 costs, the list price of Ozempic increased again in 2024, reinforcing that demand alone doesn't create affordability.
Why This Keeps Happening
Let's be direct: pharmaceutical companies raise prices because, in the United States, they largely can. Unlike most developed countries, the US doesn't have a central body that negotiates or limits drug prices (though the Inflation Reduction Act is a small step in that direction for Medicare). Manufacturers set list prices based on market conditions, patent protections, and competitive dynamics — not on what patients can afford.
This isn't a new problem, but it's an intensifying one. A 2024 analysis found that the average price increase for brand-name drugs was more than three times the rate of general inflation. For patients on fixed incomes, or those without comprehensive insurance, that gap is devastating.
Meanwhile, drug company executives point to research and development costs, and that argument has some legitimacy — developing a new drug genuinely is expensive and risky. But critics note that many of the biggest price increases are on drugs that have been on the market for years and have already returned their R&D investment many times over.
What You Can Actually Do: A Real Action Plan
Complaining about drug prices is easy. Finding solutions takes a little more work, but it's absolutely possible. Here's where to start.
1. Use a Drug Price Comparison Tool
Before you fill any prescription, check what it costs across different pharmacies and discount programs. Prices can vary dramatically — sometimes by hundreds of dollars — depending on where you fill your prescription and whether you use a discount card. Cost of Via is built specifically to make this comparison fast and simple.
2. Ask About Generics and Biosimilars
For every brand-name drug on this list, ask your pharmacist and your doctor: is there a generic, a biosimilar, or a therapeutically equivalent alternative? For drugs like Humira, biosimilars are now available and can dramatically reduce costs. Don't assume your doctor has already considered this — ask directly.
3. Apply for Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs
Almost every major pharmaceutical company has a patient assistance program (PAP) for people who meet income requirements. These programs can provide free or deeply discounted medication. Start at NeedyMeds.org or contact the manufacturer directly. It takes time, but it can be worth it.
4. Look Into State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Many states have programs that help residents afford expensive medications, particularly for seniors and people with chronic conditions. A quick search for your state name plus "pharmaceutical assistance program" will get you started.
5. Consider International Pharmacy Options — Carefully
For some medications, particularly those without US generics, Canadian or other international pharmacies offer significantly lower prices. This is a gray area legally, but the FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion for personal-use quantities. If you go this route, use only verified, licensed pharmacies. PharmacyChecker.com is one resource for verification.
6. Talk to a Patient Advocate
Nonprofit patient advocacy organizations exist for nearly every major disease category — cancer, HIV, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and more. Many have navigators who can help you find financial assistance, appeal insurance denials, or connect with clinical trials that provide medication at no cost.
7. Appeal Your Insurance Denial
If your insurance denied coverage for a medication, appeal it. Seriously. A significant percentage of appeals are successful, especially when your doctor provides documentation of medical necessity. Your insurance company is required by law to tell you how to appeal.
8. Contact Your Representatives
This one sounds like a cliché, but constituent calls and letters genuinely influence policy. The Inflation Reduction Act passed in part because of sustained public pressure. More change is possible, but it requires people making noise.
The Bigger Picture
None of this should be as hard as it is. In a country as wealthy as the United States, the idea that people are rationing medication, skipping doses, or going without treatment because of price is a genuine moral failure — and it's one that has real health consequences.
At Cost of Via, we don't have the power to fix pharmaceutical pricing policy. But we can make sure you have real information, real prices, and real options at your fingertips. Because knowing what something actually costs is the first step toward doing something about it.
