How Pharma Companies Can Make the Most of Co-Pay Smoothing in 2026

How Pharma Companies Can Make the Most of Co-Pay Smoothing in 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, co-pay smoothing (officially known as the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan) represents new opportunities for both Medicare Part D beneficiaries and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Co-pay smoothing is a new option in 2025 created under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that allows Medicare Part D members to spread out costs in smaller, predictable payments rather than facing large upfront bills. Given that the American Medical Association ranks high out-of-pocket costs among the leading reasons patients abandon therapy, co-pay smoothing is a game-changing approach that:

• Reduces the financial burden of expensive medications on patients
• Improves adherence to prescriptions and therapy persistence
• Makes long-term treatment more affordable and sustainable

For manufacturers, it’s a chance to support patient health by strengthening engagement across the therapy journey.

2026: The Year to Act

The IRA’s changes to Medicare Part D will take full effect in 2026, making it a critical year for pharma companies to adapt. What’s more, economic pressures, regulatory shifts, and patient expectations are increasing. Companies that educate patients about co-pay smoothing can help address those challenges by increasing adherence, improving therapy outcomes, and maximizing brand reputation.

Unlike disease state funds or grants that apply only to certain conditions, co-pay smoothing is available to all eligible Medicare members for applicable medications. But many Medicare beneficiaries may be unaware of the option. This presents a significant opportunity for pharma companies to:

• Educate patients about how co-pay smoothing can help them
• Improve access, affordability, therapy adherence, and health outcomes
• Elevate brand reputation by supporting patients with information about financial resources

How Redi Health Can Help

At Redi Health, we help pharmaceutical companies design co-pay smoothing programs to make this transition easy and impactful. Pharma companies leverage our real-time data insights to monitor the program's effectiveness, ensure patients stay on therapy, and achieve stronger outcomes for their brands.

Let’s work together to make 2026 the year patients can afford, and stick with, the treatments they need.