Medicare Part D: Patients Bear The Cost Of 'Me Too' Brand-Name Drugs

Health Aff (Millwood). 2016 Jul 1;35(7):1237-40. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0146.

Abstract

Prescription drugs are a major source of US health care expenditure. "Me too" brand-name medications contribute to the cost of drugs, which is substantial for consumers. In 2013 patient copayments averaged 10.5 times more for two commonly prescribed brand-name medications versus generic therapeutic alternatives.

Keywords: Consumer Issues; Health Professions Education; Health Spending; Medicare; Pharmaceuticals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cost Sharing / economics
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Drug Costs*
  • Drug Utilization / economics
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Drugs, Generic / economics
  • Female
  • Health Expenditures
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicare Part D / economics*
  • Medicare Part D / statistics & numerical data
  • Prescription Drugs / economics*
  • United States

Substances

  • Drugs, Generic
  • Prescription Drugs