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Generic Drugs
Prescription drugs can be costly. To help keep health care costs low without compromising quality, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has launched a collaborative effort to promote the use of generic drugs.
There's little difference between a brand-name drug and its generic equivalent — other than cost. The Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs have the identical active ingredients as their brand-name equivalents. They may differ from brand-name drugs in color and shape, but they are otherwise the same.
Because generics are significantly lower in cost than brand-name drugs, we urge consumers and pharmacists to choose generic equivalents when filling prescriptions. We also require that prescriptions be automatically filled with the generic equivalent when medically appropriate.
Did you know...
If you take Zocor or another statin drug to help lower your cholesterol, ask your doctor if Simvastatin, a new generic equivalent to Zocor, might be every bit as safe and effective while saving you money in out-of-pocket prescription costs.
Learn More About Generic Drugs
Estimates show that even a one percent increase in the sales of generics result in savings of $30 million for Michigan Blues customers alone.
Get the facts, calculate cost savings on your prescriptions, and even take action to lower costs. Visit our consumer Web site, theunadvertisedbrand.com.
Additional information about generic drugs is available through the links below.
