Generic drugs have long been recognized as the cheaper versions of branded drugs, that have the exact dosage, effects, usage, side effects, safety, route of administration, risk and strength as the costlier ones. You can recognize several names like the brand Tylenol is known by a generic name, acetaminophen. Omeprazole is also known by its brand name Prilosec, which helps cure reflux disease. Metformin is a generic medicine used by diabetes patients. Its brand name is Glucophage.

 The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), US, believes generic drug to be bio-equivalent or identical, to a branded medicines, in every respect. The plus point is that generic medicines costs less than their innovator, and with the skyrocketing prices of medical treatments, selecting generic drugs can keep the cost low to a great extent.

Why are generic drugs cheaper?

When a pharmaceutical manufacturing company manufactures a new drug, it contains a copyright for that drug. The copyright protects the investment of the manufacturer in developing the drug, and that exact drug cannot be sold by anyone else, legally, for a considerable time frame. That copyright protected drug is the branded drug. When we buy these medicines, we are also paying for the costs to transport and market the drug, research expenses and costs incurred in proving that the drug is safe. In addition, if it is the only available medicine for a specific disease, symptom or condition, you have to pay for the premium also. As a result, these medicines cost heavy on our pocket and the manufacturer recovers the development expenses.       

Once that copyright – protected time is over, any other firm can manufacture and sell the drug with the same composition as the branded one. However, the Food and Drug Administration wants that new name must be given to a generic drug. Since, the pharmaceutical company that develops generic drugs, didn't have to expend on fresh research, testing or marketing, the price is lower.

Veteran healthcare benefits offered by the U.S. government:     


The U.S. government provides several healthcare benefits for veterans, in respect of their service to the nation as military forces.

In the year 1995, VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) initiated its Pharmacy Benefits Management -Strategic Heathcare Group to offer a comprehensive, handy, high quality and integrated national drug plan for veterans. Over all these years, it has matured into a pharmacy plan, garnering national as well as international attention for upholding a munificent drug benefit at a very low price. Undeniably, the success of the VA's health care benefit plan has guided many to propose that it can be an example for other integrated medical plans for veterans.  Some pharmaceutical companies have followed this beneficial program and outlined some of the strategies. These firms offer highest volume of generic drugs for veterans, by keeping pharmacy prices at a very low level.

Beside immunizations and several other precautionary heath care steps, the generic medicine providers also improves the lives of military men and their families. The United States has experienced a noticeable increase in drug expenses due to the introduction of new drugs in present years.

Find out if there is a generic equivalent of your branded drug:

There are few pharmaceutical firms which display a complete directory of generic drugs that they sell, exclusively for veterans. Besides, you can also check the FDA's (Food and Drug Administration) website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/HowDrugsareDevelopedandApproved/ApprovalApplications/AbbreviatedNewDrugApplicationANDAGenerics/ucm126389.htm to see whether a generic version is available or not.