Many of the medicines on TrumpRx include brand-name drugs that patients can find cheaper elsewhere as generics. For instance, Protonix for heartburn is available for $200 on TrumpRx, but the generic version, pantoprazole, costs less than $30 with a GoodRx coupon.
States like Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia saw the most significant dips. "People have less access to care, and that tends to translate into worse health outcomes," said Matthew Fiedler, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. He added that many households' financial security is at risk: "People will face big bills that they either can't pay, and that hurts their credit. Or they do pay, but it requires them to skimp in other areas."
Social Security benefits rose by 2.8% in January 2026, adding roughly $56 per month to the average retiree's check. Year-over-year inflation is running at 2.2%, which means the COLA is actually outpacing current price increases by a small margin. The catch is Medicare. Medicare Part B premiums increased in 2026, and since those premiums are deducted directly from your Social Security payment, some of that $56 gain disappears before it reaches your bank account.
Her monthly health insurance premium jumped from $3 to $164 a month in January, a cost too high for the single mom's tight budget. Her job as a dishwasher at Chili's barely covers rent, groceries, and other essentials. Like many Americans, Richards relies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace because her job doesn't offer health insurance.
