Three-Tier Drug Classification

Each of the prescription plans consists of three drug classifications: generic, preferred brand and nonpreferred brand-name drugs. Generic drugs are the least expensive and include drugs that have not been assigned a brand name. Preferred brand-name drugs represent the less costly of the brand-name prescription drugs, while nonpreferred brand-name drugs are the most expensive. It is important to remember that many drugs in both the preferred and nonpreferred brand-name drug classifications have equivalent generic drugs available for greater cost savings.

Three-Tier Drug Classification

The 2007 retail prescription costs for the HMO and POS plans are listed below:

Retail Prescription Co-pays
(30 day supply)
Generic $5
Preferred Brand Name Drugs $20
Non-Preferred Brand Name Drugs $35