Ranked: America’s Most Common Drugs by Medicare Spending

Visual Capitalist October 21, 2025
Pallavi Rao

Key Takeaways

Eliquis tops 2023 Medicare spending at $18.3 billion, more than twice the second-ranked drug (Ozempic).
An aging population—and related conditions like blood clots—are reshaping U.S. healthcare costs.
The top 35 drugs by Medicare spending are produced by just 20 companies, highlighting the market’s concentration and pricing power.

From diabetes injectables to blockbuster blood thinners, a handful of drugs account for a sizable share of Medicare’s pharmacy bill.

This visualization ranks the most common drugs by total Medicare spending in 2023, sourced from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

It tracks every claim, dosage, and dollar flowing through Medicare Part D, the federal prescription-drug benefit.

Blood Thinners Are America’s Most Common Drug

Eliquis (generic name: Apixaban) alone...