Mark Cuban Donald Trump Partnership? An Expert Explains What TrumpRx Means for Your Drug Costs
600+ new generics are coming—but seniors may not qualify for the deepest discounts
Key Takeaways
- Trump added 600+ generic drugs to TrumpRx and partnered with Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs.
- Medicare, Medicaid and VA enrollees may not qualify for the deepest discounts on the site.
- Experts say generics for cholesterol, thyroid and diabetes are the best buys for seniors.
President Donald Trump just announced that he was going to be adding more than 600 generic drugs to his federal direct-to-consumer marketplace, TrumpRx. He also said that Cost Plus Drugs—the discount pharmacy company founded by billionaire investor and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban—will be partnering with the program.
“I’m thrilled to announce that we’re increasing the number of drugs available on TrumpRx by nearly seven times, adding over 600 affordable generics to the website, working with industry partners,” Trump said at a Monday, May 18 press conference, which Woman’s World attended virtually. “Cost-effective generic drugs are often available at just a tiny fraction of the price of their brand-name equivalents, and in theory, they’re the same thing.”
Along with the addition of the drugs, the president announced that TrumpRx medications would now be available via delivery through private pharmacy programs.
“This is yet another example of this administration and president’s leadership making life more affordable, and it’s in a particularly important arena, because almost 1 in 3 Americans, when they go to a drugstore, cannot afford to pick up the medications that their doctor prescribed for them,” said Mehmet Oz, MD, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said at the press conference.
But how helpful will these new drugs really be for Americans? And does the site actually help people save money? We spoke to an expert who said, “anyone enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, the VA or TRICARE is not eligible for most of the manufacturer discount programs.” Read on for more.
What is TrumpRx?
TrumpRx was announced by President Trump in September 2025. At the time, he said the site would offer prescription medications at a discounted rate thanks to Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing, which allows Americans to get the medications they need at the lowest rate possible.
“The United States is done subsidizing the healthcare of the rest of the world,” the President said in a news conference at the time. “By taking this bold step, we’re ending the era of global price gouging at the expense of American families.” The site promises discounts of up to 93 percent off pharmacy prices.
Since that initial announcement, President Trump has collaborated with a variety of prescription drug companies, all of which agreed to sell their products on TrumpRx on or after the launch in February 2026. Some of the most popular medications include GLP-1 medications, inhalers and some menopause products, all of which can cost a lot of money at the pharmacy.
“By incorporating this massive catalog of low-cost generics at TrumpRx.gov, consumers will now have one source to ensure that they’re getting the lowest possible cost on their prescription, so they have a real option now, today,” Trump said yesterday of the new drugs added to TrumpRx.
How does TrumpRx work?
TrumpRx provides Americans with a list of medications available for purchase. Once you find the one you need, scroll down to the “How It Works” section, where you’ll typically find a coupon you can print or add to your digital wallet.
Then, present the coupon to your pharmacy of choice and they’ll honor the price listed on the website. Currently, the prices listed on TrumpRx only work for those paying cash, so even if you have insurance coverage, you’ll need to pay out of pocket if you want to get those lower prices.
The prices are supposed to be lower than what you would pay with insurance, but that could change based on what coverage you have.
How much money will TrumpRX save older Americans?
Despite the president’s claims that TrumpRx will lower the price of medications for everyone, healthcare economist Michael Botta, PhD, co-founder of Sesame care, a direct-to-patient healthcare marketplace that connects users with licensed doctors, specialists and therapists, says the benefits will “depend entirely on who you are.”
“The biggest thing to understand is that platforms like TrumpRx are cash-pay marketplaces, and the people who benefit most are the ones who weren’t getting a good deal through their insurance in the first place,” he explains. “For seniors on Medicare, that’s actually a smaller group than you’d think, because Medicare beneficiaries aren’t legally eligible for most of the cash-discount programs the site routes you to.”
“Anyone enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, the VA or TRICARE is not eligible for most of the manufacturer discount programs the site links to. That’s a federal rule, not a TrumpRx rule. It’s designed to prevent the government from inadvertently subsidizing cash discounts. You can still buy at a cash price, but the deepest discounts may not apply,” he continues.
Which medications are best for seniors to purchase on TrumpRx?
Discounts aside, there are still some TrumpRx prices that could help seniors save—especially on well-established generic medications they take every day. Botta suggests price-checking common chronic-condition meds such as statins for cholesterol, blood pressure drugs, thyroid meds, diabetes and acid reflux medications, as well as generic antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and common antibiotics
On the opposite end, Botta says there are medications that should not be purchased on the site.
“Where cash-pay is usually the wrong answer for seniors is with brand-name drugs with no generic equivalent, specialty medications and biologics and controlled substances and anything you’re close to hitting your $2,100 Part D cap on or where your doctor is actively monitoring with frequent dose changes.” Botta explains. “The simplest rule of thumb I give people is if a medication has been on the market for more than 10 years, is available as a generic and you take it every day for a chronic condition, there’s a good chance a cash-pay price will beat your copay. For everything else, run it through your insurance and use patient-assistance programs as your fallback.”
Other ways seniors can save on prescription costs
If your medication isn’t on TrumpRx or if you don’t want to purchase it on the site, Botta says there are other ways you can save.
“Look at your Part D co-pay, then look at the cash price. Whichever is lower is the right answer for that prescription—but the answer may be different for each of your medications and may change month to month as you move through the Part D coverage stages,” says Botta.
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