What are Generic Medications?
Generic medications contain the same active ingredient as their brand name equivalent at a fraction of the cost. They also produce the same effect on the body as the brand name. The Food and Drug Administration assures that all drugs, both brand name and generic, marketed in the United States meet requirements for quality, strength, purity and potency.
• A generic medication has the same active-ingredient formula as the brand-name medication. • Generic medications usually cost less than brand-name medications and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). • On the Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List, generic medications are listed in lowercase italicized letters (for example: ranitidine), and brand-name medications are listed in all capitalized letters (for example: ZANTAC). For updated information about the medications covered by your plan, please go to Aetna Medicare Rx® — Find Prescriptions or call the Member Services number listed on your Aetna Medicare Member ID card. TTY/TDD users for hearing or speech impaired should call: 1-800-628-3323.
