re: The great generic drug rip off

I take three daily medications - two are generic, one is name-brand (no generic available). All are one pill a day.

One generic retails for $1.71 for 30 days
One generic retails for $3.18 for 30 days.
The name brand retails for $378.14 for 30 days.

My insurance covers generics at a $15 copay, or retail, whatever is less. So I pay retail for the two generics.

My insurance covers brand name in tiers. The tier for my medicine has a $40 copay. So I pay $40. However, my doctor gave me this card from the drug manufacturer that waives the copay up to $50. I believe the pharmacy gets the money from the drug manufacturer.

Looking at that list, the 2nd one, albuterol, both of my kids took that for a time when they were younger and both of them got a lot of chest infections. It was a wonder drug, and I don't think we ever paid more than about $10 for a supply.