(NC) Brand drug coupon cards promise to let you buy a brand name drug at the same price as the generic version. But it pays to look at the fine print, because these aren't the deal they pretend to be.

1. 95 per cent of the time, they don't pay the full cost difference. In most cases, the only thing that's “free” is the coupon or card itself. The companies that make these coupons use a convoluted payment system; historically, the brand name company avoids paying the full difference more than 95 per cent of the time.

2. Most of the time, your drug plan pays the cost. If you use one of these coupons and you have an employer drug plan, the rest of the costs are covered by your employer plan. This marketing scheme contributes to higher insurance premiums and leaves less money available to pay for other benefits, such as vision, dental or expensive specialty medicines.

3. Your personal information is being collected. When you sign up for a brand drug coupon program, the company can track your name, gender, age, address and medication history, and the behaviours of your doctor and pharmacist. If the company is sold, they could legally transfer your personal data.

4. There's no need to use them. If a brand drug coupon exists, it's because there's a lower-cost alternative already available from another manufacturer: a generic version. Generic drugs are made to the same Health Canada quality standards, contain the same amount of active ingredient, and must deliver the same amount of medication at the same rate as the brand name version.

Choose safe, proven generic drugs

Together, we can make healthcare more affordable by making smart choices — starting with choosing generic medicines from a company with a well-established quality track record.

For more information, visit TevaMakesMedicines.ca/CouponCards.

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