Aetna said it will expand a New Jersey pilot program that saved significant money by encouraging patients to switch to generic versions of the antidepressants Lexapro and Paxil CR.

The drugs are a considerable expenditure for the insurer, which paid out $56.7 million in fully insured claims for the antidepressants in 2006.

Aetna, one of the largest health insurers in the United States with nearly 35 million beneficiaries, already offers the co-payment waiver program for statin cholesterol reducers, proton pump inhibitor acid reducers and non-sedating antihistamines.