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New data regarding advertisements aimed at boosting prescription drug use reveal how it is that the costs of medication are still eating into healthcare spending, and raising premiums for employer insurance, Medicare, and individual health insurance.

Forbes recently released information regarding Drug Company spending, finding that "Drug Company spending on direct-to-consumer advertising continues to skyrocket, even as criticisms against it have soared."

Prescription drug use in the last 10 years has skyrocketed, beginning about the time that pharmaceutical companies got permission to start advertising directly to consumers. As consumers see this advertising, as well as doctors themselves, the prescribing of the drugs goes way up, often regardless of whether or not the patient can afford them.

Which is why the costs for individual health insurance, among others, have gone up alongside prescription drug use. Employer based coverage can't seem to keep up at all these days, and Medicare has funneled millions into covering these medications.

For those seeking individual health insurance, or for those whose other types of coverage don't offer much for out-of-pocket costs, it's always wise to go with generic drugs whenever possible. The actual chemical makeup of generics is exactly the same as pricier drugs, and the costs can be much, much more affordable.