Medco 01 by Shibu Lawrence

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Take Your Medicine

Keep Your Money Lower-cost generic medications are now available to treat: FDA1-approved generic medications can be expected to be safe and as effective as their brand-name counterparts. And generics could save you up to 60 percent of your out-of-pocket costs.2

High blood pressure High cholesterol Heartburn and stomach ulcers Insomnia Allergies Arthritis And many other conditions

Over 60 percent of all prescriptions dispensed are generics.3

Ask your doctor if a generic medication would work for you.

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2. Based on Medco book of business analysis for claims processed April–June 2007. 3. New York Times, September 21, 2007, “Helped by Generics, Inflation of Drug Costs Slows.” www.medco.com

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You’ll Feel Better

While Paying Less

FDA1-approved generic medications have the same active ingredients, quality, strength, and purity as their brand-name counterparts. And generics could save you up to 60 percent of your out-of-pocket costs.2

Over 60 percent of all prescriptions dispensed are for generic medications,3 including those that treat: High blood pressure High cholesterol Heartburn and stomach ulcers Insomnia Allergies Arthritis And many other conditions

Ask your doctor if a generic medication would work for you.

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Take Your Medicine

Keep Your Money Pay less for your medications— use safe, effective generics. Compared to their equivalent brandname drugs, FDA1-approved generics: • Contain the same active ingredients • Have the same strength and purity • Meet the same FDA manufacturing standards • Could save you as much as 60 percent of your out-of-pocket costs2

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Over 60 percent of all prescriptions dispensed are generics,3 including those used to treat: High blood pressure High cholesterol Heartburn and stomach ulcers Insomnia Allergies Arthritis And many other conditions

Ask your doctor if a generic medication would work for you. To see how much you could save on your medications, visit My Rx Choices® at www.medco.com/choices.

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2.Based on Medco book of business analysis for claims processed April–June 2007. 3.New York Times, September 21, 2007, “Helped by Generics, Inflation of Drug Costs Slows.”

www.medco.com Medco and My Rx Choices are registered trademarks and At the heart of health is a trademark of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. © 2007 Medco Health Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. 43-OT933954-10/07

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Important information about generic drugs

Take Your Medicine | Keep Your Money

• How generics compare to brand-name drugs FDA1-approved generic versions of brand-name medications can be expected to have the same active ingredients, the same quality, and the same strength as their brand-name counterparts.

To find out if a generic drug is available for your medication:

Heartburn and stomach ulcers

Visit www.medco.com/choices. You’ll learn how you can order your medications at the lowest possible cost.

Insomnia

My Rx Choices® lets you:

Allergies

• Discover lower-cost medication options for you and your family

Arthritis

• What doctors think about generics

www.medco.com

Lower-cost generic medications are now available to treat:

High cholesterol

It’s expensive to create a new drug and market it to the public. Generic drug manufacturers do not have those expenses, so the medications they produce can cost significantly less for the exact same ingredients, strengths, and doses.

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2. New York Times, September 21, 2007, “Helped by Generics, Inflation of Drug Costs Slows.”

How much could you save with generics?

High blood pressure

• Why generics cost so much less

Last year, more than 60 percent of all prescriptions were for generic drugs, so they are widely accepted.2

Are your medications available as generics?

And many other conditions

Want to save on your medications? Ask your doctor if generic drugs are right for you. FDA-approved generic drugs are safe and as effective as their brand-name counterparts, and they typically cost much less.

Ask your doctor if a generic medication would work for you.

• Compare out-of-pocket costs for all your medication choices • Order the lower-cost option, or print your results so you can discuss these choices with your doctor

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Patient Generics Request Card

Instructions for the Patient Generics Request Card: 1. Next time you see your doctor, take this Patient Generics Request Card with you.

Patient Generics Request Card

2. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic medications for you always if they’re available and appropriate. 3. Ask your doctor to add this card to your patient file as a reminder that you prefer generic medications. 45-OT934166-10/07

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Patient Generics Request Card To:

Dr.

Patient Generics Request Card To:

Dr.

(Physician name)

I want to save on the cost of my prescription drugs and to use cost-saving generics whenever possible.

I am requesting that whenever you prescribe drugs for me, please write for generics if they are available and appropriate.

Please attach this request to my patient file as a reminder to prescribe generics.

From:

From: (Patient name)

Date:

(Patient name)

Date:

Patient Generics Request Card To:

Instructions for the Patient Generics Request Card:

Dr. (Physician name)

I want to save on the cost of my prescription drugs and to use cost-saving generics whenever possible.

1. Next time you see your doctor, take this Patient Generics Request Card with you.

I am requesting that whenever you prescribe drugs for me, please write for generics if they are available and appropriate.

2. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic medications for you always if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re available and appropriate.

Please attach this request to my patient file as a reminder to prescribe generics. From: (Patient name)

3. Ask your doctor to add this card to your patient file as a reminder that you prefer generic medications.

Date: 45-OT934166-10/07

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Take your medicine. Keep your money. How you can safely lower the cost of your medications If you could pay less for your medications without any added risk to your health and safety, you would do it, right? Here’s one way to help keep costs down for you and your health plan. If you are taking a brand-name medication that has a generic version, you could save a substantial amount of money—up to 60 percent of your out-of-pocket costs.1 The difference between generics and brand-name drugs: Generic medications and their brand-name counterparts contain exactly the same active ingredient in the same strength and purity. There may be coloring or other inert ingredients that make medications look different. In terms of how they work, however, they are exactly the same. Generics are safe and effective. FDA2-approved generic medications are safe and as effective as their brand-name counterparts. In fact, over 60 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States are for generics.3

Talk to your doctor about generics. Most doctors prescribe generic medications on a routine basis. Your doctor, however, may not be aware that you can save money by taking generics. It always pays to ask if a generic medication is available and appropriate for you. Find out how much you can save. For personalized information on generics and other lower cost medications, visit My Rx Choices® at www.medco.com/choices.

Why generics cost so much less. It costs a lot of money to create a new drug and bring it to market. Generic manufacturers don’t have those expenses, so the medications they produce can cost significantly less for the exact same ingredients, strengths, and doses.

1. Based on Medco book of business analysis for claims processed April–June 2007. 2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 3. New York Times, September 21, 2007,“Helped by Generics, Inflation of Drug Costs Slows.”

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Take your medicine. Keep your money. What you should know about generic medications When you have a prescription filled, you may have a choice between filling it with a brand-name or a generic medication. With generic medications, you may get the medications you needâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;often for less money! What are generic medications? To understand generic medications, you need to understand a little about how pharmaceutical companies develop brandname medications. Pharmaceutical companies spend many years researching and developing new medications, which must be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company that develops the medication obtains a patent, giving it exclusive rights to market the medication for a defined period of time. However, when the patent expires, other companies can begin to manufacture and sell the generic version. Are generics safe and effective? Yes. To get FDA approval, the medication must contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name product and must meet the same strict quality standards. The generic medication must also be equivalent in strength and dosage to the original brandname medication.

How do generics differ from their equivalent brand name medications? Generic medications and brand-name medications may contain different inactive ingredients, such as fillers and dyes. Inactive ingredients can give a medication its color and size. Also, a generic medication can have a different shape from its brand-name equivalent. These differences affect how the medication looks but do not affect the way the medication is used or the diseases for which it is used. Why do generics often cost less? Generic medications often cost less because the manufacturers of generic medications do not need to pay for the research and development associated with original development of the medications. Additionally, makers of generics can sometimes charge less because more than one generic version of a brand name medication is often available. This promotes competition, which drives prices down.

continued

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Do all brand-name medications have a generic form available? No, but a generic medication may still work for you. Doctors may have several medication options they can prescribe for your condition. If your brand-name drug does not have a generic equivalent, there may be another generic available to treat your condition.

Find out how much you can save. For personalized information on generics and other lower-cost medications, visit My Rx Choices® at www.medco.com/choices.

Is there a generic medication to treat my condition? Over 60 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States are for generic medications1, including those that treat: High blood pressure High cholesterol Heartburn and stomach ulcers Insomnia Allergies Arthritis And many other conditions So it always pays to ask your doctor if a generic medication would work for you.

1. New York Times, September 21, 2007,“Helped by Generics, Inflation of Drug Costs Slows.”

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Banner Ad

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www.medco.com Medco and My Rx Choices are registered trademarks and At the heart of health is a trademark of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. ÂŠ 2007 Medco Health Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. 48-OT934007-10/07

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How to feel better while paying less for your drugs.

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Medco has advanced the practice of pharmacy to improve health and lower the total cost of care for our members. Providing you with lower cost options to discuss with your doctor is just one way Medco helps you save.

Your doctor can help you save. All you need to do is ask.

How to talk to your doctor about saving with generic drugs

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Most doctors want to help keep their patients’ healthcare costs affordable. However, some doctors may not know when generic drugs become available and that they typically cost 50 percent to 70 percent less than brand-name drugs.

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Why pay more than you need to for your medications?

Take a few minutes today to speak to your doctor about lower-cost generic drugs.

We encourage you to talk to your doctor about generic drugs and how you could reduce your prescription costs. Here are three questions you can ask whenever your doctor prescribes a brand-name drug (and why it is okay to ask).

Fast facts about FDA-approved generic drugs

1. Is there a generic drug that I can take instead of the brand-name drug you’ve prescribed? Doctors often have several medication options they can prescribe for your condition. Generic drugs account for more than half of all prescriptions. If your brand-name drug does not have an equivalent generic drug, there may be another generic available to treat your condition.

2. Will a generic drug provide effective treatment for me? The FDA has indicated that generic drugs can be expected to work as well as the original brand-name drugs, because generic drugs have the same active ingredients. FDA-approved generic drugs also have the same quality and strength as brand-name drugs. You and your doctor can determine if generic drugs are right for you.

3. Would a 90-day supply of medication be appropriate for me? If you use a medication on a long-term basis, you could save the most money by ordering a 90-day supply of a generic drug through Medco By Mail, your plan’s convenient mail-order pharmacy. To get started with mail order, call us toll-free at 1 800 MEDCO-MAIL (1 800 633-2662). We will help you get started.

■ Visit us online at www.medco.com.

■ Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the original brand-name drugs.

■ Call the Member Services toll-free number shown on your prescription drug ID card.

■ Generic drugs have the same quality and strength as brand-name drugs.

If you need additional information:

■ Generic drugs must meet the same strict FDA manufacturing standards as brand-name drugs. ■ Generic drugs cost up to 70 percent less than brand-name drugs.*

*Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Testimony of Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Program before the Senate Finance Committee [press release]. Available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/testimony.asp?Counter=1091. Accessed August 9, 2006. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

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Your doctor can help you save. All you need to do is ask.

How to talk to your doctor about saving with generic drugs

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Why pay more than you need to for your medications?

Take a few minutes today to speak to your doctor about lower-cost generic drugs.

Fast facts about FDA-approved generic drugs

3. How can I get started with generic drugs? The next time you go to the drugstore for a refill, ask the pharmacist if there are generic versions of your medications. If you do not have refills left on your prescriptions, ask your pharmacist to call your doctor to request a prescription for up to a 30-day supply of medication.

■ Visit us online at www.medco.com.

■ Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the original brand-name drugs.

■ Call the Member Services toll-free number shown on your prescription drug ID card.

■ Generic drugs have the same quality and strength as brand-name drugs.

If you need additional information:

■ Generic drugs must meet the same strict FDA manufacturing standards as brand-name drugs. ■ Generic drugs cost up to 70 percent less than brand-name drugs.*