In the last few years, the market has seen a shift toward the use of generic drugs. Your prescription drug plan probably encourages it, and so does the local drug store; you can get a 30-day supply of many generic drugs for just $4 at several of the big name pharmacies.

Most benefits professionals can state off the top of their heads the names of the highest-cost prescriptions covered by their plan. You know the ones: Nexium®, Lipitor®, Prevacid®, or some of the other brand-name drugs commonly prescribed for your employees. Because these drugs remain subject to a patent, they are not yet available as generics, and they may not be for many years.

However, there is a secret about them that even most physicians may not know—there are equally effective drugs available at much lower costs. Read more in this pdf

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