Lipitor Patent Expires

The popular statin (cholesterol lowering) drug Lipitor lost its patent protection on November 30, 2011, allowing less expensive generics to enter the market.  Since Lipitor is one of the most frequently filled non-specialty drugs (by cost), estimates show the generic equivalent will lead to significant cost savings over the next year.

 

The introduction of a generic equivalent (Atorvastatin) to Lipitor will allow health plan members to continue to receive the benefits this drug provides, while also reducing their healthcare costs.  Health plans recognize the benefit that drugs like Lipitor provide and also know that members are looking for ways to reduce their out-of-pocket costs for medical care.  The use of generic drugs can deliver significant cost savings for both members and employers.

 

Generic drugs provide a better value than their brand-name counterparts.  They are FDA -approved, contain the exact same active ingredients and undergo a rigorous review process to ensure they perform in the same way as brand name drugs.

 

The impact of this change for members will vary depending on their health insurance carrier, benefit plan and respective drug list.  Watch for direct communication from the insurance carrier if you are currently taking Lipitor.  This will advise you how the change will be implemented specific to your plan.