Save Money on Prescription Drugs by Asking for an Older Pill that Does the Same Thing

Here's a way to save money on your medical expenses -- by asking for an older pill that does the same thing. The details from Money magazine:

If there is no generic version of a brand-name drug you're taking, ask your doctor about a therapeutic substitute or an older drug in the same category. A drug that has been on the market for more than 10 years will almost always have a generic version available.

My experience with doctors is that if you ask, they'll come up with a whole range of viable substitutes. But since most people don't ask, they don't even get to consider the options available to them.