The out-of-pocket cost of asthma and chronic obturative pulmonary disease therapy might be a limiting factor of the therapy for many patients in Poland. Does the out-of-pocket copayment influence the therapy choice, specifically where the treatment is reimbursed? Do the therapy cost paid by the patient have any influence on treatment compliance? Will the introduction of the generic medication identical to the innovative drug, but available at lower cost change the therapy adherence? In this review we are trying to answer the aforementioned questions.