Drug coupons and co-pay subsidies

The hidden costs and risks of drug coupons

 Here is a current Fact Sheet on Co-Pay Coupons used by pharmaceutical corporations to market expensive medication over affordable alternatives.

Here is a recent survey by the National Coalition on Health Care on the use of co-pay coupons by seniors under Medicare, and the impact of co-pay coupons to SWITCH 2-out-of-3 consumers using a coupon from taking affordable generic drugs to expensive brand-name alternatives.

For information on class action litigation to challenge the deceptive nature of co-pay coupons, go here.

Additional resources:

• Comments of PAL and Community Catalyst concerning a proposed FDA study on the effect of drug coupons in direct to consumer advertising upon consumer perceptions of drug risks and benefits. (Nov. 22, 2010)

•  Comments of PAL & 23 other orgnaizations to FDA on proposed study of prescription drug coupons, calling for ban on such coupons (April 2006)
  

For additional information on marketing drugs directly to consumers, see our page on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.