News & Trending Jobs & Career News

Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Has a New Plan to Cut Employer Healthcare Costs

New partnership aims to make health care more affordable.

By Sarah Sharkey , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated May 24, 2026

Add Us On Google

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug company recently announced a partnership with CenterWell Pharmacy, which is a part of Humana. The goal: to develop end-to-end employer prescription solutions in an effort to cut down on costs.

With employer health care costs projected to rise by more than 9% in 2026 to roughly $17,000 per employee, according to Aon, the possible solution couldn't come at a better time.

Let's explore how this might work and help you keep more cash in your wallet.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.¹ <p>Clients who complete the program and settle all debts typically save around 45% before fees or 20% including fees over 24–48 months, based on enrolled debts. “Debt-free” applies only to enrolled credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. Not mortgages, car loans, or other debts. Average program completion time is 24–48 months; not all debts are eligible, and results vary as not all clients complete the program due to factors like insufficient savings. We do not guarantee specific debt reductions or timelines, nor do we assume debt, make payments to creditors, or offer legal, tax, bankruptcy, or credit repair services. Consult a tax professional or attorney as needed. Services are not available in all states. Participation may adversely affect your credit rating or score. Nonpayment of debt may result in increased finance and other charges, collection efforts, or litigation. Read all program materials before enrolling. National Debt Relief’s fees are based on a percentage of enrolled debt. All communications may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance. In certain states, additional disclosures and licensing apply. ©️ 2009–2025 National Debt Relief LLC. National Debt Relief (NMLS #1250950, CA CFL Lic. No. 60DBO-70443) is located at 180 Maiden Lane, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10038. All rights reserved. <b><a href="https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/licenses/">Click here</a></b> for additional state-specific disclosures and licensing information.</p>

How Cost Plus Drugs works

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company burst into the prescription drug scene with the stated goal of cutting through the notoriously murky health care industry to provide access to medications at fair prices.

It works by offering prescription drugs at a 15% markup from the cost, plus $5 for labor and additional shipping costs. For many, this model offers significantly lower costs for needed medication. Through the Cost Plus Drug business model, it's not uncommon to see savings up to 80% on prescription drugs.

When you work with Cost Plus Drug, you don't have to pay a membership fee or have insurance. All of the medications are delivered to your home.

Shopping for cheaper auto insurance? Enter your zip code here to get started.

The new partnership

After finding a way for individuals to purchase prescription drugs at steeply discounted rates, Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company is ready to set its sights on how employers pay for prescription drugs. To that end, it recently announced a partnership with Humana's CenterWell Pharmacy.

Together, the companies said they will "develop new end-to-end employer prescription solutions," in a recent press release.

In the same press release, Mark Cuban said, "This collaboration gives Cost Plus Drugs the chance to support more consumers. We're working with CenterWell Pharmacy because we trust the team and like what they're doing in trying to improve prescription affordability."

Potential for significant savings

One key feature of the new partnership is that CenterWell Pharmacy will integrate Cost Plus Drug's SwiftyRx platform into its national distribution network. SwiftyRx automates prescription verification, order intake, and benefits checks, ultimately streamlining the process.

When combined with CenterWell Pharmacy's existing national distribution, it's possible shoppers will see significant savings. For now, the partnership is limited to Humana's own employees. But if all goes well, the changes are expected to expand to cut health care costs for other employers.

How can the savings be so big?

When you find out that Cost Plus Drug has been able to offer prescription drugs to patients at a price that's 80% lower than their previous provider, it's a bit shocking. We're not talking about saving a few pennies here and there. The savings available could easily add up to hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for some patients.

A major piece of the puzzle is PBMs, or Pharmacy Benefit Managers, which are essentially middlemen in the prescription drug supply chain. For many prescription drugs, there are rebates available. But when a PBM is involved, that rebate often gets funneled back to the employer, not the employee facing high prescription drug prices.

In a recent Forbes Healthcare Summit, Cuban noted that Americans are often paying full list price for their prescription drugs. And when a rebate is available, it's sent through the PBM to the employer, never reaching the employee.

In this new partnership between Cost Plus Drugs and CenterWell Pharmacy, a key goal is to cut out the middleman. And as more middlemen are cut out of the supply chain, the cost of prescription drugs tends to fall.

Can you tap into these savings?

To answer the question you've been thinking, yes, it's possible for most to tap into the savings offered by Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company. As of now, you can visit Cost Plus Drug directly to see if the medications you need are available at a lower price.

If you have a Humana health care plan, consider reaching out to your HR department to find out whether the potential savings from this partnership are available at your workplace. It never hurts to ask.

Bottom line

Overpaying for your necessary medications is one of the most painful ways to waste money. But when you're looking for ways to cope with increasing bills, it's not always obvious where to turn. As a starting point, consider finding out if Cost Plus Drugs offers your medications at a lower price.

As you cut back on these costs, you'll breathe some wiggle room into your budget. Instead of jumping into a lifestyle upgrade, consider redirecting the funds toward a major financial goal, like saving for retirement or getting out of debt.

More from FinanceBuzz:

Author Details

Sarah Sharkey

Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer for FinanceBuzz who enjoys diving into the details to help readers make more informed decisions. She covers mortgages, insurance, money management, travel, and more.