SANTA MONICA, Calif. – GoodRx just released a new tracker examining how inflation is affecting the cost of prescriptions, healthcare services, and everyday essentials like rent and food. Among the findings: costs for critical services—including prescription medications, hospital care, dental visits, and nursing homes—are rising faster than overall inflation.
GoodRx is one of the few organizations that consistently track these trends. This tracker offers both a 10-year and a 1-year view and arrives just as policymakers weigh new tariffs and economic decisions that could further impact costs. With Americans spending nearly $61 billion out of pocket on prescriptions in 2024 alone, GoodRx helped ease the burden, saving users nearly $17 billion last year.
Key takeaways from the tracker include:
- Prescription drug list prices are up 39% since 2014, with consistent year-over-year increases of 3–4% since 2017.
- Healthcare costs—including hospital services, nursing homes, and even veterinary services—continue to rise, often outpacing both wage growth and core inflation.
- Prescription medications have seen the highest inflation compared to other medical goods, like nonprescription medications and medical equipment.
The full report is available here: https://www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/research/drug-prices-growing-faster-than-commodities-and-services
