WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study finds that seniors who opt not to
chose generic drugs are driving up the cost of the government's
Medicare drug plan.

The study found seniors are more likely to ask their pharmacist
for generic medications when they are paying, but choose the more
expensive originals when the government is picking up the tab. The
study was published by Medco Health Solutions, a drug benefit
manager that handles prescriptions for about 20 percent of
Americans.

Generic drugs are medically indistinguishable from the original
products, and can cost up to 80 percent less. But figures from
Medco suggest some patients are still more comfortable taking
medicines from the original manufacturer.