Generic Drug and Biosimilars Access and Savings in the U.S.
Every year, the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) releases a report documenting the billions of dollars that the U.S. health care system saves through generic and biosimilar prescription medicines. Here are some highlights from the 2020 report:
America's patients and our health care system saved $313 billion in 2019, and the last decade has seen close to $2.2 trillion in savings.
Nationally, the Medicare program saved $96.1 billion in 2019, or $1,053 per participant, by using generics. Medicaid programs saved $48.5 billion, or $770 per participant.
U.S. biosimilars savings totaled $2.2 billion in 2019 and $4.5 billion over the past 10 years.
The report is primarily based on data from IQVIA.
Savings for U.S. Patients
Safe, effective FDA-approved generic and biosimilar medicines save more Americans more money every year.
Download and share 2019 generic savings in your social channels.
Responding to a Crisis
Securing Our Access and Savings, the theme of the 12th annual edition of the report, captures the way that the COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of the role that supply chain integrity plays in U.S. health and security.
The U.S. generics and biosimilars industry has mounted a tenacious response to the pandemic. AAM and its members are first and foremost committed to the health of the American people by minimizing any possible disruption to access to life-saving and health-maintaining generic and biosimilar medicines.
Read AAM’s blueprint for a closely connected, diverse and resilient pharmaceutical supply chain.
Generic Prescription Savings
In 2019, generic medicines saved the U.S. health care system and taxpayers $313 billion and nearly $2.2 trillion over the past 10 years.
Formerly an educator and home lending professional, Rich Lichty, 72 is now a part-time DJ for parties. His greatest passion — besides his wife, three children and four grandchildren — is boating on the Chesapeake Bay. Rich takes candesartan for his moderate high blood pressure.
“Without access to generic medicines, I don't know what I'd do."
—Rich Lichty, 72, Laurel, MD
Biosimilars Savings
In 2019, biosimilar medicines saved the U.S. health care system and taxpayers $2.2 billion and $4.5 billion over the past 10 years.
Jeni Doerr, 35, has recently gone back to school to become a medical coder and when she is not online learning, she is outside enjoying everything California has to offer through hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking with her dog Sally. Jeni takes the biosimilar Inflectra for her pancolitis. She had previously taken a brand biologic, but it didn’t do anything for her symptoms. Read her full story.
"If I'd known I could be on a biosimilar, I'd have done it immediately."
—Jeni, 35, Santa Clarita, CA
Celebrate a decade of biosimilar savings at b10similars.org.
Savings by Patient Condition
No matter what condition you or your family members are experiencing, generic prescription drugs are saving you money. Savings from cancer-related drugs amounted to $13.6 billion in 2019.
We have compiled patient savings for top conditions into Savings by Condition fact sheets with data produced for AAM by IQVIA. In addition to a breakdown of one-year savings and 10-year savings, patients can also see their generic savings for common co-morbidities of each of these conditions.
Download a Savings by Condition fact sheet:
Our Interactive Savings Map
How much did your state save in 2019? California led the way, with $28 billion. To view a full break down of generic savings by state and payer type, choose a state in the drop-down menu to download a one-page summary of how much that state saved from generic medicines.
Please note: state savings totals are rounded from actual totals.
#SecureOurMeds
Take action to secure the future of accessible generic and biosimilar medicines.
- Share your story about filling your prescriptions during the pandemic.
- Discover the roadblocks interfering with even greater generic drug savings.
- Read AAM’s blueprint for a closely connected, diverse and resilient pharmaceutical supply chain.
- Advocate for biosimilars savings.
- Make your voice heard via our AAM Action Center.
Social Media Toolkit
Now more than ever, it is essential to ensure continued access to the patients who rely on generic and biosimilar medicines. Through the pandemic and beyond, generic and biosimilar medicines can offer much-needed health benefits and substantial cost savings. We encourage you to help educate others by sharing this information in your social channels.
Please remember to tag @AccessibleMeds and @BiosimsCouncil in your posts and use #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport to be a part of the conversation.
Graphics for Sharing
The U.S. health care system saved $2.2 trillion in the last decade due to the availability of lowcost #generics. See more in the @accessiblemeds 2020 #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport: https://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport
#Biosimilars have the potential to improve the quality of life for patients while at the same time saving the U.S. health system billions of dollars each year. Learn more in the @accessiblemeds 2020 #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport: https://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport @BiosimsCouncil
How much did your state save? The @accessiblemeds 2020 #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport presents data on state-by-state generic drug savings in 2019: https://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport #Generics #Biosimilars
More Words for Sharing
- In 2019, the U.S. saved $313 billion from #genericmedicines – more than $20 billion more than 2018! Safe, effective FDA-approved medicines save more Americans more money every year. Learn more in the @accessiblemeds 2020 #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport: http://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport
- #DYK that more than 60 billion doses of safe, effective generic prescription medicines are made in the U.S. every year? Learn more in the 2020 Generic Drug & Biosimilars Access & Savings in the U.S. Report: http://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport #Generics #Biosimilars #SecureOurMeds
- #DYK that while #generic medicines account for 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., they account for only 20% of prescription spending? Learn more from @accessiblemeds #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport today: http://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport
- 92% of #generic prescriptions are filled at $20 or less and the average copay for a generic drug is $6.97. Read @accessiblemeds 2020 Generic Drug and Biosimilars Access & Savings report to learn more. #GRxBiosimsSavingsReport http://bit.ly/2020-GRxBiosimsSavingsReport
