Generic Prescription Drugs Show Increasingly Greater Use in Southeastern Pe...(aking medications for chronic conditions...),Health

diabetes or asthma are significantly more likely to inquire about

generics. In fact, 54 percent of members with chronic conditions

indicated they were more likely to ask about generic drugs compared to

members needing prescriptions less often (54 percent versus 32 percent).

Financial Reasons to Switch

When the concept of financial savings for generics was raised in the

survey, one in four members said that they are motivated to switch to

generics when there is a cost savings to them of $20 or greater, between

the generic and the brand name prescription. Those with chronic conditions

also answered the most positively about No Pay Copay saving them money. A

sizeable 56 percent said No Pay Copay saved them from cutting back on

other important expenses. A whopping 94 percent said they know that

generics save consumers a significant amount of money overall.

Generic Drugs Benefit Everyone

Eighty-six percent of those surveyed said they feel good that IBC is

proactively trying to keep health care costs under control with member

incentive programs like No Pay Copay.

After No Pay Copay ends, members will be able to continue saving money by choosing generic drugs, because they cost significantly less than brand name drugs. IBC's prescription drug plans always offer the lowest copay amount for generics.

Independence Blue Cross Encourages Everyone to Be Smart Health Care Consumers

IBC encourages every consumer to ask his or her doctor or pharmacist if there is a suitable generic alternative for any brand name drug prescribed. Even if a drug is not yet manufactured in generic form, there is often a so- called generic therapeutic alternative available that treats the same condition with a different chemical, and can offer the same results.

"A generic therapeutic alternative requires a new prescription," sa
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