Medicare drug talks bring major savings for Ohio seniors

By Farah Siddiqi

Prescription drug costs are set to drop sharply for many Ohio seniors starting in 2026, after Medicare negotiated prices for the first time on some of the program’s most expensive medications.

A new analysis from AARP showed the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare negotiation will see significant reductions in what older adults pay out of pocket. The lower prices take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and apply to medications used to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure and cancer.

Jenny Carlson, state director of AARP Ohio, said the effects for Ohioans could be substantial.

"This is a historic moment," Carlson contended. "These are historic savings that are starting Jan. 1, 2026 when these new lower prices go into effect. Here in Ohio, about 382,000 people use these medications, so the savings are real."

According to AARP’s analysis, out-of-pocket costs for the first 10 negotiated drugs will drop by more than 50% on average, and seven of those medications are expected to cost less than $100 a month.

National advocates said the savings address a long-standing affordability problem for older adults, many of whom rely on multiple prescriptions to manage chronic illness. AARP leaders argued high drug prices have forced seniors to make difficult trade-offs between medicine and necessities.

Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP, said affordability is directly tied to health outcomes.

"Prescription drugs can be a lifeline but medicine doesn’t work if you can’t afford it," LeaMond pointed out. "Medication affordability is not an abstract challenge. It’s about choosing between filling a prescription and paying for groceries, rent or utilities."

The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program was authorized by the 2022 prescription drug law and is expected to save enrollees $1.5 billion nationwide in 2026, according to federal estimates. Advocates said future negotiations and protections will be key to sustaining savings for Ohio’s aging population.