Despite rising drug prices, Express Scripts by Evernorth helped members keep their pharmacy costs in check throughout 2024. New data shows that affordability remains a cornerstone of our approach to pharmacy benefits.
Members with employer-sponsored insurance paid an average of $15.02 for a 30-day supply of medication in 2024 – a slight decrease of 1.03% from the previous year. In 2025, roughly 82% of members spent less than $250 annually, or about $20 per month, and 68.9% spent less than $100 – figures holding relatively steady from 2024 and 2023.
“These findings confirm that employer-sponsored benefits continue to thrive, despite drug price increases and efforts by drugmakers to push patients outside the pharmacy benefit,” said Adam Kautzner, Pharm.D., president of Evernorth Care Management and Express Scripts. “Our focus remains on practical solutions that make medications more affordable. These efforts help millions of Americans access the treatments they need at a lower cost.”
Average commercial member cost-share continued to drop, even as consumer prices for goods and services continued to increase.
Managing price pressures
Express Scripts helped keep member costs stable despite the rise in prices for nearly half (46.7%) of the most-used medications in 2024 (the top 80% by volume). Of these medications with price increases, 82.8% were branded drugs and 29.2% were generics.
Biosimilars play a key role in reducing patient costs for expensive medications. While Humira prescriptions had outpaced its biosimilar prescriptions, biosimilars have replaced 18.1% of Humira use in 2024, up from 0.8% the previous year when these biosimilars were first introduced. Biosimilar adoption is expected to rise as more of these alternative medications enter the market.
Affordable access to GLP-1 care
Evernorth’s commitment to affordability extends to GLP-1 therapies, which have become increasingly important for both weight loss and diabetes management.
Through the EncircleRx program, member out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1 weight-loss medications are capped at no more than $200 per month, which make these high-demand medications more accessible than ever. In 2025, the average monthly out-of-pocket cost was $83.50 for Wegovy and $89.26 for Zepbound – well below the direct purchase price from manufacturers, which stands at $499 per month for both drugs.
For diabetes care, members continue to benefit from comprehensive coverage that keeps essential GLP-1 treatments within reach. In 2025, members paid an average monthly out-of-pocket cost of $48.85 for Rybelsus, $50.56 for Ozempic, $55.81 for Mounjaro, and $55.93 for Trulicity. These figures represent a fraction of the average wholesale prices, which range from $977 to $1,080 per month.
Controlling costs for the rising demand in mental health medications
Usage of mental health medications grew in terms of the number of days supply per member, with SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants up by 2.3% and anti-anxiety medications up by 3.7%. Despite this increase, the average out-of-pocket costs per prescription were only $3.13 for SSRIs and $4.16 for anti-anxiety medications. Promoting the use of generics, which made up 99.9% of SSRI prescriptions and 100.0% of anti-anxiety prescriptions, played a large role in maintaining affordability for these therapies.
Our commitment to expanding access and affordability
As demand for medications continues to grow, Evernorth is focused on exploring solutions that make care simpler and more affordable for everyone we serve. From innovating benefit designs to expanding competitive options, we aim to continue delivering value to patients while addressing their evolving needs.
“Our mission is simple: keep essential medications within reach,” Kautzner said. “By leveraging generics, biosimilars, and innovative cost-control programs, we’re helping members better access the treatments they need to manage their overall health, especially those living with chronic and mental health conditions. That’s the kind of impact we’re proud to deliver.”
