Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.
Published . Updated .
Key takeaways
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Don’t sit on the sidelines during open enrollment.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR
Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story.
- IHF iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF+5.8% 30d
iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story.
- LLY Eli Lilly and+20.6% 30d
Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- UNH UnitedHealth Group+7.4% 30d
UnitedHealth Group (hospital and medical service plans): health insurers' costs move with medical prices and policy. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story.
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson+0.5% 30d
Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- ELV Elevance Health+0.3% 30d
Elevance Health (hospital and medical service plans): health insurers' costs move with medical prices and policy. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story.
- PFE Pfizer+9.0% 30d
Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- MRK Merck+3.3% 18d
Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLV | -2.95% | -0.31% | base | +0.03% | after close | after close | after close |
| IHF | +0.44% | +1.98% | base | +0.69% | after close | after close | after close |
| LLY | -9.22% | -2.71% | base | +0.41% | after close | after close | after close |
| UNH | +2.54% | +2.61% | base | +0.71% | after close | after close | after close |
| JNJ | -0.68% | +1.70% | base | -1.20% | after close | after close | after close |
| ELV | +1.88% | +2.01% | base | -0.08% | after close | after close | after close |
| PFE | -3.00% | -2.47% | base | -1.34% | after close | after close | after close |
| MRK | -4.45% | -1.43% | base | -2.72% | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Don’t sit on the sidelines during open enrollment.
Source: MarketWatch
Price since this story was published: Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevance Health (ELV) | that day | -0.08% | still updating |
| Elevance Health (ELV) | three days earlier | +2.01% | final price |
| Elevance Health (ELV) | five days earlier | +1.88% | final price |
| Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf (IHF) | that day | +0.69% | still updating |
| Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf (IHF) | three days earlier | +1.98% | final price |
| Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf (IHF) | five days earlier | +0.44% | final price |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | that day | -1.20% | still updating |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | three days earlier | +1.70% | final price |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | five days earlier | -0.68% | final price |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | that day | +0.41% | still updating |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | three days earlier | -2.71% | final price |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | five days earlier | -9.22% | final price |
| Merck (MRK) | that day | -2.72% | still updating |
| Merck (MRK) | three days earlier | -1.43% | final price |
| Merck (MRK) | five days earlier | -4.45% | final price |
| Pfizer (PFE) | that day | -1.34% | still updating |
| Pfizer (PFE) | three days earlier | -2.47% | final price |
| Pfizer (PFE) | five days earlier | -3.00% | final price |
| Unitedhealth Group (UNH) | that day | +0.71% | still updating |
| Unitedhealth Group (UNH) | three days earlier | +2.61% | final price |
| Unitedhealth Group (UNH) | five days earlier | +2.54% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) | that day | +0.03% | still updating |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) | three days earlier | -0.31% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) | five days earlier | -2.95% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Eli Lilly (LLY) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 60 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Unitedhealth Group (UNH), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Unitedhealth Group (UNH) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 41 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Unitedhealth Group (UNH) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 10 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr sold Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 30 Sep 2026. That is 34 days before publication. Filed 30 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 56 days before publication. Filed 5 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Pfizer (PFE) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 60 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Pfizer (PFE), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 74 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Merck (MRK), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Merck (MRK), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 76 days before publication. Filed 9 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
Companies tied to this story
- XLV Select Sector Spdr Tr
In “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
- IHF Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf
Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf (IHF) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 3 Nov 2026 story “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you..” Reason on file: iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
- LLY Eli Lilly
For “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Eli Lilly (LLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- UNH Unitedhealth Group
Unitedhealth Group (UNH) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 3 Nov 2026 story “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you..” Reason on file: UnitedHealth Group (hospital and medical service plans): health insurers' costs move with medical prices and policy. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson
In “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- ELV Elevance Health
In “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Elevance Health (ELV) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Elevance Health (hospital and medical service plans): health insurers' costs move with medical prices and policy. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
- PFE Pfizer
For “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Pfizer (PFE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- MRK Merck
In “Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.,” Merck (MRK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
“Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.” (3 Nov 2026) reaches Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) through this story.
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is on the page because Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
A second company, Ishares U.S. Healthcare Providers Etf (IHF), is listed for a different reason: iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF: it holds health insurers and care providers. Linked by “medicare” (health insurers and care costs) in this story
The price range for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV), and the dates in the story
IHF traded between 54.17 and 60.46 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 59.98. LLY traded between 1131.55 and 1447.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 1411.75.
A simple score for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
46 out of 100Price not final
“Medicare prescription drug costs will jump 50% in 2027. Doing nothing could cost you.” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies. The price is not final yet.