Generic drugs are viewed as a rare bright spot when it comes to the cost of the U.S. health-care system. By switching to them, patients can often save a bundle.

But for some in the health-care industry, generics can mean big money. And the irony is that patients often don't realize their savings from generics could be much bigger. As this WSJ article from last year explains, pharmacies often significantly mark up the prices of generics when they sell them to the uninsured. And as the WSJ reports today, pharmacy benefits managers...