DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 75 and have not been able to eat beef or dairy products since my mid-20s. A colonoscopy revealed that I have diverticulosis, but I am generally not bothered if I stay away from all products that come from cows.

My doctor suggested adding more fiber to my diet. I already eat a diet of salads, fresh vegetables, fish, chicken and some pork; I could eat more fruit and grain. What will fiber supplements like Benefiber do for me? I am not looking to ever add products from cows back into my diet, but would adding this type of fiber supplement benefit me? Can too much fiber hurt me? — N.K.J.

ANSWER: Diverticulosis is a condition of pouches within the walls of the colon. These can become inflamed (diverticulitis) or can bleed. If your doctor is recommending extra fiber to help prevent complications of diverticulosis, either increased dietary fiber (such as the fruit and cereal grains that you are contemplating) or a fiber supplement can help prevent problems. (Benefiber is wheat dextrin, while other fiber supplements contain psyllium, but both are soluble fiber.)

Fiber is often recommended for people with bowel symptoms. People who experience both diarrhea and constipation can benefit from fiber supplementation, but you didn’t mention any symptoms.

If your goal is general health, then the addition of more fiber from whole grains and fruit is likely to have more benefits (including cancer and heart disease reduction) compared to a fiber supplement. Fiber supplementation is very safe, but I recommend starting slowly. Ingesting too much fiber too fast can cause bloating, gas and distention. Let your body get used to the increased fiber, especially when using supplements.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I would appreciate your insight regarding prescription drug pricing. As an example, I am prescribed 10 mg of generic rosuvastatin for a 90-day supply. I am enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, so my co-pay for this medication is $0. On the patient information sheet, however, the listed retail price is approximately $400. This gives the impression that UnitedHealthcare is providing substantial pharmacy coverage.

My question is: How is it justified that the pharmacy lists a cost of $400 when, if I were to pay in cash without using my drug coverage, the medication would cost approximately $20 out of pocket? Is there some sort of financial benefit in listing the higher price? — Anon.

ANSWER: I think that they want to make you feel like you are getting benefits from your prescription plan. While what they are saying can be considered true, sort of, they are certainly making themselves seem better, similar to an online retailer that makes the competitors’ prices higher than they actually are so that you think you are getting a great deal.

In the case of brand-name Crestor (rosuvastatin), the average retail price is close to $400 for one month, while a three-month supply at a national pharmacy is $780. For generic rosuvastatin (which contains the same active ingredient), the average retail price is about $290. This varies dramatically between pharmacies ($114 to $800).

You can get lower prices through discount programs such as GoodRx or Amazon, where I found one-month prices to be between $11 and $20. CostPlus pharmacy charges $7 (plus shipping) for a 90-day supply.

I’ve learned that the cost of a prescription varies dramatically and that there are many ways of getting medicines for much less money than you may be asked to pay — often less than the co-pay from insurance. (Although in your case, you can’t get a cost that is less than $0.) It does take some effort to find the best price.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2026 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved