How much can I save by switching to generic medication?

Generic medications typically cost 80-85% less than brand-name equivalents. A brand-name medication costing $200 per month could have a generic equivalent for $20-40 per month, saving $1920-2160 per year. Our cost estimator calculates exact savings based on the prices you enter.

Medication cost estimator

Q: How do I calculate my annual medication cost?

Annual medication cost = (price per fill x fills per year). For a 30-day supply at $45 per fill: 45 x 12 = $540 per year. For a 90-day supply at $120 per fill: 120 x 4 = $480 per year. Enter your costs above to calculate automatically across multiple medications.

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Calculate monthly, quarterly and annual costs for one or more medications. Compare brand vs generic prices, factor in insurance copays, and see your total annual medication spend across all prescriptions.

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Days supply per fill

Insurance copay per fill ($ - leave 0 if none)

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Prescription drug costs: what you can actually control

The average American on a chronic medication spends $1,200 or more per year on prescriptions. For patients on 3 or more chronic medications, that number climbs fast. Most of that cost is negotiable - if you know which levers to pull.

Generic vs brand: the single biggest lever

Generic medications contain the same active ingredient at the same dose as their brand-name equivalent. The FDA requires them to be bioequivalent - meaning they work the same way. They're cheaper because manufacturers don't bear the cost of original clinical trials. The savings are real: brand-name atorvastatin (Lipitor) costs $180-250 per month. Generic atorvastatin runs $10-15. That's $2,040-2,820 saved annually on a single medication. Use our Generic ↔ Brand Name Converter to find generic equivalents for any brand-name medication.

90-day fills vs 30-day fills

Most pharmacies and insurance plans offer lower per-day costs on 90-day supplies vs 30-day supplies. A $45 30-day fill costs $540/year. The same medication on a 90-day fill might cost $110, which is $440/year. That's $100 saved just by changing the dispensing quantity. Ask your pharmacy about 90-day options, especially for chronic medications you've been on for years.

Manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs

Most major brand-name manufacturers offer copay cards that cap out-of-pocket costs at $10-35 per fill for insured patients. For uninsured patients, manufacturer patient assistance programs can provide medications free or at very low cost. GoodRx and similar discount programs often beat insurance copays for generic medications at many pharmacies. The total annual cost this tool calculates is a useful starting point for determining how much it's worth investigating alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

How much can switching to generic save?

Typically 80-85% compared to the brand-name equivalent. A medication costing $200/month could have a generic available for $15-40/month, saving up to $2,200 per year on a single drug. Use the Brand vs Generic tab above to calculate exact savings for your specific medications.

Are generic medications as effective as brand-name?

Yes, for the vast majority of medications. The FDA requires generics to contain the same active ingredient at the same dose and demonstrate bioequivalence (meaning they deliver equivalent drug levels in the blood). The inactive ingredients (fillers, coatings) may differ, which occasionally matters for tolerability but not for clinical effectiveness.

How do I calculate my annual medication cost?

Annual cost = price per fill x number of fills per year. For a 30-day supply: 12 fills per year. For a 90-day supply: 4 fills per year. Enter your price and supply days above and the calculator handles the rest, including monthly breakdown and insurance copay impact.