Americans fear drug prices will soar as tariffs threaten medication & CVS and Walgreens closures add to shortage panic
AMERICANS are worried that medication prices will go up amid Trump's tariff war, and store closures in the US are adding to the panic.
Major pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens are slashing store counts by the thousands, yanking critical lifelines from patients across the country.
Health experts have warned the cuts, combined with President Donald Trump’s looming pharmaceutical tariffs, could send drug costs skyrocketing and worsen dangerous medication shortages.
The closures are already hitting underserved communities hardest, fueling the rise of so-called "pharmacy deserts."
'PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS'
Over 26,000 pharmacies have disappeared in just over a decade, a brutal 29% drop, according to Kavelle Christie, a healthcare policy expert.
Drugmakers depend heavily on international production for key ingredients and manufacturing, especially for cheaper generics made in China and India, reported CNBC.
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"This is not just a business trend; it’s a public health crisis," Christie told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview.
The impact has left 15.8 million people nearly 5% of the US population, with "extremely limited" access to medications, vaccines, and healthcare services, she warned.
CVS has already shuttered 900 locations over the past three years and plans to axe another 270 stores by the end of this year.
The pharmacy giant claims the cuts are "strategic" and tied to shifting consumer habits, population trends, and overlapping store locations.
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"We’re closing locations strategically to better meet consumers’ health, wellness and pharmacy care needs," CVS said.
SOUTHERN STATES HIT HARD
Walgreens has slashed more than 1,000 stores since 2018 and is on track to shut down another 1,300 in the next three years.
Meanwhile, struggling rival Rite Aid is in talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners after exiting bankruptcy last fall.
Closures are hitting southern states especially hard, Christie said, pointing to Mississippi and Louisiana as some of the worst-affected.
Many of the areas losing stores are left with no nearby options for essential medication and pharmacist consultations.
Walgreens Stores Closing in 2025
Walgreens plans on closing stores in 33 states, with the stores on the chopping block subject to change as the chain announces more closures:
California:
- 135 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102.
- 5300 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94124.
- 5280 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118.
- 1750 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122.
- 1630 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112.
- 1201 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116.
- 1363 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115.
- 1189 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110.
- 825 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103.
- 1301 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
- 3201 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94123.
- 1524 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
- 5055 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609.
- 301 E 18th St, Oakland, CA 94606.
- 3434 High St, Oakland, CA 94619.
- 5809 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605.
- 1150 Macdonald Ave, Richmond, CA 94801.
- 4220 Missouri Flat Rd, Placerville, CA 95667.
- 6199 Sunrise Blvd, Citrus Heights, CA 95610.
- 840 El Camino Ave, Sacramento, CA 95815.
- 1401 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818.
- 7155 24th St, Sacramento, CA 95822.
- 275 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111.
- 3232 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601.
Colorado:
- 12051 E Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
- 6395 Sheridan Boulevard, Arvada, CO 80003
- 1601 W 84th Ave, Federal Heights, CO 80260
- 6360 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80222
- 3555 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205
- 15301 E Iliff Ave, Aurora, CO 80013
- 3143 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
- 10501 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010
- 300 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
- 3067 S Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80227
- 4745 Arapahoe Ave STE 120, Boulder, CO 80303
- 1041 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501
- 2608 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
- 4305 E Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Connecticut:
- 11 Meriden Rd, Waterbury, CT 06705
- 436 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06511
- 161 Washington St, Hartford, CT 06106
- 25 E High St #8, East Hampton, CT 06424
- 200 Westminster Rd, Canterbury, CT 06331
- 940 Quaker Ln S, West Hartford, CT 06110
- 1606 Barnum Ave, Stratford, CT 06614
- 188 Union St, Vernon, CT 06066
Delaware:
- 3301 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19805.
- 1900 Maryland Ave, Wilmington, DE 19805.
- 32979 Coastal Hwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930.
- 124 E Main St, Newark, DE 19711.
- 4201 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803.
Florida:
- 12041 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905.
- 2349 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Georgia:
- 1880 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093.
- 3228 Wrightsboro Rd, Augusta, GA 30909.
- 25 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
- 5701 Ogeechee Rd, Savannah, GA 31405.
- 595 Piedmont Ave NE Ste 100, Atlanta, GA 30308.
- 25 Peachtree St, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Illinois:
- 3405 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616.
- 7109 S Jeffery Blvd, Chicago, IL 60649.
- 841 Bloomington Rd, Champaign, IL 61820.
- 9148 S Commercial Ave, Chicago, IL 60617.
- 4005 W 26th St, Chicago, IL 60623.
- 7111 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636.
- 2515 Knoxville Ave, Peoria, IL 61604.
- 2 N State St 1 1, Chicago, IL 60602.
- 2 E Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60605.
- 3726 W 16th St, Chicago, IL 60623.
- 3401 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60624.
- 842 E Main St, Danville, IL 61832.
- 3601 16th St, Moline, IL 61265.
- 7880 Winn Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081.
- 4000 W 59th St, Chicago, IL 60629.
- 4740 W 95th St, Oak Lawn, IL 60453.
- 222 W Court St, Kankakee, IL 60901.
- 1001 N Main St, Elburn, IL 60119.
Indiana:
- 2410 N Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.
- 10170 Maysville Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46835.
- 102 E Hively Ave, Elkhart, IN 46517.
- 2015 Covert Ave, Evansville, IN 47714.
- 1702 E Spring St, New Albany, IN 47150.
- 100 N Memorial Dr, New Castle, IN 47362.
- 501 E National Ave, Brazil, IN 47834, United States.
- 1195 N State St, Greenfield, IN 46140.
Iowa:
- 606 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309.
- 1805 N Brady St, Davenport, IA 52803.
Kentucky:
- 402 2nd St, Henderson, KY 42420.
- 3312 KY-54, Owensboro, KY 42303.
- 101 E Reynolds Rd, Lexington, KY 40517.
- 3120 Pimlico Pkwy Ste 178, Lexington, KY 40517.
- 951 S Main St, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
- 901 N Main St, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
Louisiana:
- 3747 Moss St, Lafayette, LA 70507.
- 2810 Louisville Ave, Monroe, LA 71201.
Maine:
- 713 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102.
- 123 Main St, Fairfield, ME 04937.
- 461 Main St, Saco, ME 04072.
- 35 Park St, Milo, ME 04463.
- 233 US-1, Scarborough, ME 04074.
Maryland:
- 8701 Georgia Ave Ste 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
- 12222 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20906.
- 300 Pulaski Hwy, Joppatowne, MD 21085.
- 1300 E North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21213.
- 3700 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211.
- 19 E Fayette St, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Massachusetts:
- 85 Huttleston Ave, Fairhaven, MA 02719.
- 32 Union St, Easthampton, MA 01027.
- 99 Westfield St, West Springfield, MA 01089.
- 324 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171.
- 50 Lincoln St, North Adams, MA 01247.
- 707 State St, Springfield, MA 01109.
- 78 Main St, Westfield, MA 01085.
- 7 E Silver St, Westfield, MA 01085.
Michigan:
- 918 Riverview Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49048.
- 14048 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203.
- 15411 Southfield Rd, Allen Park, MI 48101.
- 640 N Milford Rd, Milford Charter Twp, MI 48381.
- 3880 Wilder Rd, Bay City, MI 48706.
- 107 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.
Minnesota:
- 602 S Front St, Mankato, MN 56001.
- 4205 Egan Dr, Savage, MN 55378.
- 4916 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55410.
- 600 County Hwy 10, Blaine, MN 55434.
- 1112 Civic Center Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901.
- 1274 Town Centre Dr, Eagan, MN 55123.
Mississippi:
- 804 Spring St, Waynesboro, MS 39367.
- 955 N State St, Jackson, MS 39202.
- 204 Hwy 80 W, Clinton, MS 39056.
- 1583 E County Line Rd, Jackson, MS 39211.
Missouri:
- 3720 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63115.
- 2310 McCausland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63143.
- 1400 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63106.
- 1605 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801.
New Jersey:
- 642 Newman Springs Rd suite a ste a, Lincroft, NJ 07738.
- 901 Main St, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.
- 37 Old Hwy 22, Clinton, NJ 08809.
New Mexico:
- 1861 Main St NW, Los Lunas, NM 87031.
- 9700 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.
New York:
- 50 N Main St, Ellenville, NY 12428.
- 153 Main St, Owego, NY 13827.
- 792 W Main St, Rochester, NY 14611.
- 5651 Whiskey Hill Rd, Wolcott, NY 14590.
- 77 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011.
North Carolina:
- 418 US-264, Belhaven, NC 27810.
- 3333 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
- 418 N, 418 Marshall St N, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
- 2019 N Main St, High Point, NC 27262.
- 1812 Holloway St, Durham, NC 27703.
- 456 Conover Blvd W, Conover, NC 28613.
Ohio:
- 4121 vacuum Ave, Dayton, OH 45402.
Oklahoma:
- 950 E Taft Ave, Sapulpa, OK 74066, United States.
- 6000 S Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159.
- 9011 S Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159.
- 6505 E 71st St, Tulsa, OK 74133.
- 4400 NW 23rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73107.
Oregon:
- 210 E Barnett Rd, Medford, OR 97501.
- 2727 NE Hwy 20, Bend, OR 97701.
- 12335 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97230.
- 51670 Huntington Rd, La Pine, OR 97739.
Pennsylvania:
- 1 Yorktown Plz, Elkins Park, PA 19027.
South Carolina:
- 4520 Hard Scrabble Rd, Columbia, SC 29229.
- 6500 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, SC 29209.
Tennessee:
- 1725 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916.
- 2 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103.
Texas:
- 5300 N Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77096.
- 4847 Slide Rd, Lubbock, TX 79414.
- 9705 Spencer Hwy, La Porte, TX 77571.
Utah:
- 7227 S State St, Midvale, UT 84047.
Virginia:
- 3130 Langston Blvd. , Arlington, VA 22201.
Washington:
- 5602 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98408
- 28817 Military Rd S, Federal Way, WA 98003
Wisconsin:
- Wisconsin
- 2625 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
- 2222 W Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53206
- 7600 W Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53222
- 6707 W Hampton Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53218
- 620 W Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215
- 2410 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215
- 10800 W Capitol Dr, Wauwatosa, WI 53222
- 1921 S Main St, West Bend, WI 53095
- 4518 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WI 53716
- 20 W Pioneer Rd, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
- 5201 N 91st St, Milwaukee, WI 53225
- 2826 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
- 1720 W Washington St, West Bend, WI 53095
- 101 N Center Ave, Merrill, WI 54452
Source: Irish Star
"The impact is devastating, especially for people managing chronic conditions, pregnant individuals, and those relying on regular prescriptions for their health," Christie added.
While California and New York have slowed closures with laws requiring pharmacy benefit managers to be more transparent about pricing and reimbursements, other states remain vulnerable.
Meanwhile, branded drugmakers may fare better under tariffs, since they typically have higher profit margins and more US-based production.
DRUG SHORTAGE RISE
On the national level, Trump’s tariff push could add to the panic.
The president plans to slap “major” tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, claiming it will bring drug manufacturing back to the US.
He said the move would not be reversed, even as he rolled back other industry-wide duties this week.
Experts say the duties could disrupt an already fragile supply chain and lead to higher costs for patients.
"We are already in a state where prescription drugs are unaffordable to many," Mariana Socal, a health policy professor at Johns Hopkins told CNBC.
"Anything that we change, any trade policies, any tariff policies, anything that further increases the cost of prescription drugs, be it in the supply chain, the distribution network, risks increasing costs to the consumer even further and just worsening the affordability crisis for drugs in America that we’ve had for a long time," she added.
Branded drugs with patents could get even more expensive, experts say, because manufacturers can easily pass on the extra cost to patients.
It’s still unclear what Trump’s tariffs will look like.
A patient with a 20% coinsurance rate could see their monthly out-of-pocket expenses rise if tariffs are imposed since their share of the cost is directly tied to the branded drug’s price, reported CNBC.
Some generic drugs may vanish altogether as companies exit the US market due to squeezed margins, she warned.
Read More on The US Sun
Shortages of critical medications already at record highs could grow worse, particularly for injectables like IV saline, chemotherapy, and lidocaine.
Marta Wosińska, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on Health Policy, said price hikes could backfire on drugmakers and reignite pressure from both parties to tie US prices to cheaper rates in Europe.