Generic medications are more affordable and compose 80% of total medications prescribed in the U.S.
But for brand-name medications that arent available as genericsbecause a pharmaceutical company has patented the drugprices can run high.
This makes up the vast majority of the U.S. drug spending.
Photo Illustration by Lecia Landis for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Americans spent an average of $133 out-of-pocket in 2021 on prescription drugs.
Thats compared to $11 in the United Kingdom, $58 in Germany and $132 in Canada.
Some 2 million Americans wereestimatedto have imported their medication in 2020.
Thats where people fall through the cracks, Mueller told Verywell.
A lot of people that come to our website are insured, its just what we call underinsured.
I really do think there could be parallel importation between the U.S. and the E.U., she said.
Working in tandem with them makes total and complete sense.
RAND Corporation.International prescription drug price comparisons: current empirical estimates and comparisons with previous studies.
