July 28, 2016
One of the many good things about Medicare is the wealth of information that we receive on costs and usage. Recently a study was conducted that concluded individuals who used name brand drugs paid about 10 times more in co-payments than those who used generic drugs. Physicians can prescribe generic medications if they choose to do so.
When seniors have such high co-payments, they are forced to choose between food and drugs according to the study. Many times the patient and doctor may not even know the cost of the drug. Often, people tend to lean toward brand names due to advertising to consumers and marketing to doctors.
This is yet another reason it is important to be an informed consumer and active in all your health decisions.
Source: KHN, Rachel Bluth
