What two numbers am I comparing?

The US number is CMS's average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit (calendar year 2024), in US dollars. The UK number is the patient's flat NHS England charge per item (£9.90, 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)), in pounds. They are not the same kind of price.

Why is the England charge the same for every drug?

In England, an NHS patient pays a flat £9.90 per dispensed prescription item (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), frozen) — the same charge for any drug, whatever it costs the NHS — or nothing at all with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (£114.50/year cap, worth it above 11 items/year) or an exemption. NHS prescriptions are free outright in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Drug Prices: US vs UK, by Drug

Pick a drug to see its average US Medicare Part D spend per dose (calendar year 2024) next to the flat £9.90 NHS England prescription charge (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)).

How do prices for common drugs compare in the US and the UK?

For each drug we show two real figures: the US average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit (calendar year 2024, CMS) and the flat NHS England prescription charge of £9.90 per item (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)). The England charge is identical for every drug; the US per-dose spend is not. They are different measures in different currencies, shown side by side, never converted. Information only — not medical advice.

Source:CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug·as of calendar year 2024updated yearly (last: 25 June 2026)

Not medical advice. The figures on this page are drawn unchanged from public government datasets for general information only. They are not price quotes and not a substitute for professional advice. What you actually pay depends on your country, pharmacy, insurance, manufacturer, dose and region. Never start, stop or switch a medication on cost grounds without a licensed pharmacist or clinician.

The US figure is Medicare Part D PROGRAM spending per dosage unit (in US dollars), not a cash price; the UK figure is the patient's flat NHS charge per item (in pounds). They measure different things in different currencies and are shown side by side, never converted into one another.

Most common drugs — US spend per dose vs England charge

Top 10 Medicare Part D drugs by 2024 claim volume — US per-dose spend vs flat England charge
Drug	US per dose	England patient	2024 US claims
Atorvastatin Calcium	$0.1452	£9.90	73,349,032
Amlodipine Besylate	$0.0848	£9.90	50,204,110
Levothyroxine Sodium	$0.1694	£9.90	43,253,940
Gabapentin	$0.1192	£9.90	36,804,628
Lisinopril	$0.0889	£9.90	36,247,459
Losartan Potassium	$0.1256	£9.90	36,240,406
Metoprolol Succinate	$0.1825	£9.90	32,213,092
Rosuvastatin Calcium	$0.1872	£9.90	30,813,501
Omeprazole	$0.1716	£9.90	28,883,231
Pantoprazole Sodium	$0.1987	£9.90	25,600,657

Every drug (100)

Frequently asked questions

What two numbers am I comparing?: The US number is CMS's average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit (calendar year 2024), in US dollars. The UK number is the patient's flat NHS England charge per item (£9.90, 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)), in pounds. They are not the same kind of price.
Why is the England charge the same for every drug?: In England, an NHS patient pays a flat £9.90 per dispensed prescription item (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), frozen) — the same charge for any drug, whatever it costs the NHS — or nothing at all with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (£114.50/year cap, worth it above 11 items/year) or an exemption. NHS prescriptions are free outright in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and licensed under the U.S. Government Works / Public Domain. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (calendar year 2024, published 2026-06-25).

Contains public sector information published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), NHS England & DHSC and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS prescription charges (England) — NHSBSA / NHS England / DHSC (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), published 2026-04-01).