Healthcare Affordability Series Part 1: Can Federal Employees Save Money on Their Prescription Drug Costs with TrumpRX?
Paying for healthcare continues to weigh heavily on Americans. In a recent KFF tracking poll, respondents ranked healthcare expenses, including premiums and out-of-pocket costs, as their top economic concern ahead of essentials like utilities, food, housing, and gas.
This year, I’m launching a new series focused on healthcare affordability where I’ll share practical strategies and actionable insights to help federal employees and annuitants both manage and reduce their expenses.
In this first installment, we’ll explore the newly launched TrumpRX program to see if it can help federal employees save money on their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.
What is TrumpRX?
It’s a new site geared toward Americans without health insurance that offers substantial discounts on 43 prescription drugs. Depending on the drug, TrumpRX either provides a printable or digital coupon you can present at the pharmacy, or it directs you to a manufacturer’s site with details on additional savings programs.
Are there savings using TrumpRX compared to my FEHB prescription drug coverage?
Maybe. We compared TrumpRX prices against what you would pay if you had prescription drug coverage from BCBS Basic, one of the most popular nationwide PPO plans in FEHB. During our test, we chose a CVS pharmacy in the Washington, D.C., area.
Here’s what we found:
Of the 43 drugs listed on TrumpRX:
- Six did not match dosage and format with BCBS Basic.
- 10 were not covered by BCBS Basic.
- 11 were cheaper with BCBS Basic compared to TrumpRX, including Xeljanz 5mg tablet 60 count, which costs $250 with BCBS Basic and $3,036.60 with TrumpRX, a difference of $2,786.60.
- 16 were cheaper with TrumpRX compared to BCBS Basic, including Wegovy .25MG Inj, which costs $199 with TrumpRX and $728.53 with BCBS Basic, a savings of $529.53.
Can FEHB enrollees use TrumpRX?
Yes. The site will mostly benefit those without health insurance, but it is available for those enrolled in FEHB who are willing to bypass prescription drug coverage from their FEHB plan to pay cash at the pharmacy.
Advice to Consider Before Using TrumpRX
To understand whether TrumpRX could save you money, start by finding out what you currently pay under your FEHB plan by using your carrier’s pricing tool. To get true apples-to-apples comparisons, be sure to match your medication’s exact formulation, dosage, and quantity.
Also, keep in mind that TrumpRX currently lists only brand name medications. Your FEHB plan may offer cheaper generic alternatives, which may provide the same clinical benefits at a fraction of the cost.
Although TrumpRX currently lists a limited selection of medications, it’s expected to grow. Depending on your FEHB plan, TrumpRX may cover drugs your insurance does not. For example, if you’re prescribed a new medication midyear that isn’t included in your FEHB plan, TrumpRX discounts could offer a temporary, low-cost solution until you can switch plans during the next Open Season.
Federal employees seeking more affordable GLP-1 medications should also explore TrumpRX; while FEHB plans must cover at least one weight-loss medication, you may find additional, cheaper options on TrumpRX.
While TrumpRX may offer lower prices than your FEHB plan for certain medications, remember that using it means any amount you pay out-of-pocket will not count toward your deductible or catastrophic limit.
When evaluating potential savings, weigh the discount on a specific medication against the total picture. In the short term, you could save money with TrumpRX but going through your plan and having your prescription drug payments count toward your deductible can make other healthcare costs less expensive once you meet that threshold.
