Drug costs are rising at a rate of nearly 12% per year, according to a 2002 report by the National Institute for Health Care Management Research and Educational Foundation. Why? Because drug companies spend billions of dollars a year:

These costs are then passed onto you, the consumer. To help offset these rising costs, consumers can choose to use generic drugs, when available. Generic drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe, effective treatment option and they can save you money.