Patient Out-of-Pocket Spending on Generic and Brand-Name Prescription Drugs - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients Using Generic Versus Brand-Name Prescription Medications

  • By

  • Christopher L. Cai

  • Aaron S. Kesselheim

  • Benjamin N. Rome

  • September 11, 2026

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  • 1

    In 2022, 51.91% of individuals filled generic medications, while 15.81% filled at least one brand-name medication.

  • 2

    Mean annual out-of-pocket spending was $51 for generic drugs and $41 for brand-name drugs.

  • 3

    Nationally, estimated out-of-pocket spending was $16.8 billion for generic drugs and $13.7 billion for brand-name drugs.

  • 4

    Adults filled more generic (mean, 2.19) and brand medications (mean, 0.27) compared to children.

  • 5

    Medicaid beneficiaries had the lowest mean annual out-of-pocket spending: $6 for generics and $3 for brand-name medications.

Original Source(s)

Patient Out-of-Pocket Spending on Generic and Brand-Name Prescription Drugs

  • by Christopher L. Cai, Aaron S. Kesselheim, Benjamin N. Rome

  • September 11, 2026

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