Research reveals generic medication is just as good as brand-name medication

The economy is making it even more challenging for people to pay out-of-pocket for prescriptions. Though the financial burden of paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, it may still be a hardship for people with lower incomes and those with public insurance. Turning to generic medicines could help those who need cheaper prescriptions, according to RAND.

A non-profit research institution, RAND researchers are known for finding ways to improve policies on many issues including healthcare and national security. In their most recent research study, The Financial Burden from Prescription Drugs Has Declined Recently for the Non-elderly, Although It Is Still High for Many, RAND investigated the prescription spending of people who were tracked by the federal Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 1999 to 2008.

RAND found that families' out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs increased from 1999 to 2003, and declined between 2003 and 2007.

Yet, even in 1999 64.5 million non-elderly Americans belonged to families whose out-of-pocket drug costs accounted for more than half of all out-of-pocket health care costs.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System staff physician Wallid Gellad, who was a researcher on the study, told theGrio that the findings suggest people were buying generic medications instead of brand-names to reduce their health care costs.

"It looks like the healthcare system we have in place is pushing people towards purchasing generic drugs since many are lower in price compared to brand names," Gellad said.

If they need to save money, Gellad emphasized that when patients are prescribed medicines, they should always ask their doctor if there is a generic alternative. "It's the most important thing to do," he said. "Often people don't ask and they really should."

Although patients may be shy about speaking with their doctors in regards to the financial burden of paying for medications, Wallid said they need to speak up. "We know that people, even the doctors, don't like to talk about costs," he continued. "But it's of no use to the doctor or the patient, if the patient does not say anything."

Interestingly, previous studies have shown that many, particularly African-Americans, have been greatly impacted by the high costs of medication.

In 2003, a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) revealed that African-American Medicare beneficiaries who were 65 and older were more than twice as likely as elderly whites to not be able to afford to fill at least one prescription in the last year. Additionally, they also were more likely to live with certain chronic conditions -- like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes -- that usually require long-term prescription drug treatment

More recently, a study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that African-Americans and single women were more likely than other groups to not be able to afford healthcare costs.

Thomas Loker, who is the author of The History and Evolution of Health Care in America: The Untold Backstory of Where We've Been, Where We Are, and Why Healthcare Needs Reform, said he's not surprised that under deserved communities, like African-Americans, are turning to generic medications.

"From the underserved community's perspective, generic drugs look great since they cost less and often need no co-pay," Loker said.

Loker, who has worked on healthcare legislation, told theGrio that although generic medication is great for poorer groups, sometimes generic versions of needed medications are scarce, as the overall health care industry is experiencing a medicine shortfall. It has been found that of the medicines in short supply, 87 percent are generics.