CVS Caremark Settles with FTC Over Drug Rebate Practices, Agrees to Count TrumpRx Purchases Toward Deductibles

CVS Health's Caremark has finalized a settlement with the FTC on July 14, 2026, to curb after-market drug rebates and allow clients to opt out of rebate models. The agreement, mirroring a prior Cigna deal, requires CVS to count TrumpRx.gov purchases toward deductibles once supporting regulations are established. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson expects the settlement to save consumers billions of dollars. TrumpRx.gov, launched in February 2026, offers discounted weight-loss and other drugs but previously operated outside insurance.

FTC settlement with CVS Caremark

• ▪The settlement between CVS Caremark and the Federal Trade Commission mirrors a similar agreement reached between the agency and Cigna earlier in 2026
• ▪CVS Health's Caremark finalized a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on July 14, 2026, to address drug rebate practices

Rebate opt-out for clients

• ▪Drug rebates are paid by drugmakers to pharmacy benefit managers and may or may not be passed on to plan sponsors or consumers
• ▪The Federal Trade Commission settlement requires CVS Caremark to provide health plan clients with an option to opt out of rebate-based payment models

After-market rebate curbs

• ▪The Federal Trade Commission settlement obliges CVS Caremark to curb its use of after-market discounts known as rebates
• ▪Critics argue that after-market drug rebate practices contribute to high drug costs for consumers

TrumpRx deductible counting requirement

• ▪The requirement to count TrumpRx purchases toward deductibles will take effect once regulations are in place to facilitate the TrumpRx program
• ▪The settlement requires CVS Caremark to count consumer purchases from the TrumpRx website toward deductibles on some health plans

Consumer drug price savings

• ▪Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that the settlement is expected to bring billions of dollars in savings on drug prices
• ▪President Donald Trump launched TrumpRx.gov in February 2026 to offer discounted generic and branded drugs, focusing on weight-loss medications

TrumpRx platform limitations

• ▪The out-of-insurance operation of TrumpRx.gov has limited its value for some American consumers who must meet health plan deductibles
• ▪TrumpRx.gov operates outside of insurance by sending cash-pay customers directly to drugmaker websites for discounted drugs