GENERICS DRUG PLAN HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES

Many small business in theUnited States are struggling tokeep health insurance costs downfor their employees, while still providingquality coverage. A recentstudy showed that an almost 50%rise in premiums over the past fewyears has made employee healthcare costs the number-1 concernfor these businesses.

Medco Health Solutions Inc hasannounced the introduction of a newprescription drug plan that willemphasize the use of generic drugsin an attempt to help both employersand employees save money. GenericsFirst is one of the nation's lowest-cost generic prescription drugprograms for small to mid-size businesses.The plan is an insured productavailable only through Medco's insurancepartners by way of their licensedagents and brokers.

Generics First costs almost halfas much as traditional drug plans,with members receiving up to a 90-day supply of generic drugs for a$10 copay. Medco is launching theGenerics First product with insuranceleader Nationwide, which willoffer the product under the nameNationwide Select. The plan alsowill offer its members 24-houraccess to pharmacists and coveragefor brand name and specialtydrugs at a discounted rate.