2008 Woodie Awards
Birth Control Users Go Off Campus
Barbara Bouccaut
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Healthcare
Joy Jackson used to pay a low price for birth control on campus, but recent government cut backs has sent her looking else where.
The Deficit Reduction Act, passed in 2005, limited the spending of Medicare and Medicaid, which made it expensive for Universities and Health Centers to purchase cheap birth control from pharmaceutical companies.
Jackson, a WPU senior, found the prices of birth control gradually went up over a three year period while she lived on campus.
"They were saying that since the school didn't get a discount, the prices went up," said Jackson.
Eventually WPU stopped providing birth control, said the Health and Wellness Center registered nurse Stacy Sanchez.
"What it cost us quadrupled," said Sanchez. "It wasn't in our budget any more."
Now, the Health and Wellness Center provides prescriptions to women looking for birth control.
With William Paterson's insurance, women will only have to pay a $10 co-pay, said Sanchez.
CVS Registered Pharmacist Mittal Vyas said she has seen a price hike in non-generic birth control, but it also depends on what type of contraceptive a woman uses.
"Two years ago, a woman came in to buy birth control, which she normally paid thirty-nine dollars or forty dollars for, but the price jumped to fifty-eight dollars and we had no explanation for the patient," said Vyas.
According to Vyas, oral contraceptive tablets are the most common prescriptions that come through the pharmacy.
Will the high price of birth control cause more girls to stay away from it?
"No," says Jackson. "I don't think girls will stop using birth control because it is more expensive now. I'm on a tight budget and I still make it work. It's all about getting your priorities straight."
Jackson now pays $25 at her local Planned Parenthood, which has not been effected by the Deficit Reduction Act.
At Planned Parenthood's around New Jersey, the prices for birth control range from $16 to $64 depending on the income of the patient. The prices also depend on the type of birth control distributed like the patch or Nuva Ring.
Vyas said she didn't understand why companies would increase the price of birth control, since a new product is released at a set price. But, she has not seen a reduction in the sales of birth control.
Since becoming FDA approved in 1960, birth control has evolved from being only available to married or single women over 21, to the now easily available contraceptive Plan-B, which is used to prevent pregnancy 72 hours after unprotected sex.
"Birth control is too important to give up," said Jackson. "I'd rather live with it, than without it."
The Deficit Reduction Act, passed in 2005, limited the spending of Medicare and Medicaid, which made it expensive for Universities and Health Centers to purchase cheap birth control from pharmaceutical companies.
Jackson, a WPU senior, found the prices of birth control gradually went up over a three year period while she lived on campus.
"They were saying that since the school didn't get a discount, the prices went up," said Jackson.
Eventually WPU stopped providing birth control, said the Health and Wellness Center registered nurse Stacy Sanchez.
"What it cost us quadrupled," said Sanchez. "It wasn't in our budget any more."
Now, the Health and Wellness Center provides prescriptions to women looking for birth control.
With William Paterson's insurance, women will only have to pay a $10 co-pay, said Sanchez.
CVS Registered Pharmacist Mittal Vyas said she has seen a price hike in non-generic birth control, but it also depends on what type of contraceptive a woman uses.
"Two years ago, a woman came in to buy birth control, which she normally paid thirty-nine dollars or forty dollars for, but the price jumped to fifty-eight dollars and we had no explanation for the patient," said Vyas.
According to Vyas, oral contraceptive tablets are the most common prescriptions that come through the pharmacy.
Will the high price of birth control cause more girls to stay away from it?
"No," says Jackson. "I don't think girls will stop using birth control because it is more expensive now. I'm on a tight budget and I still make it work. It's all about getting your priorities straight."
Jackson now pays $25 at her local Planned Parenthood, which has not been effected by the Deficit Reduction Act.
At Planned Parenthood's around New Jersey, the prices for birth control range from $16 to $64 depending on the income of the patient. The prices also depend on the type of birth control distributed like the patch or Nuva Ring.
Vyas said she didn't understand why companies would increase the price of birth control, since a new product is released at a set price. But, she has not seen a reduction in the sales of birth control.
Since becoming FDA approved in 1960, birth control has evolved from being only available to married or single women over 21, to the now easily available contraceptive Plan-B, which is used to prevent pregnancy 72 hours after unprotected sex.
"Birth control is too important to give up," said Jackson. "I'd rather live with it, than without it."
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