ONE ADVANTAGE OF SINGLE-PAYER:

Drug costs are soaring, and one of the biggest cost drivers is prescription brand-name drugs. Sometimes, there's no alternative  on the market to treat a particular illness. But other times, Americans opt for branded medicines when cheaper, generic versions are available.

On average, generics cost 80 to 85 percent less than name-brand medicines, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And buying unbranded drugs isn't like opting for cheap toilet paper or no-name face cream: Less expensive here doesn't necessarily mean lower quality.

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