If you get birth control pills from the health center,it’s going to cost you a little more now.
The Memorial Health Center has been forced to raise the cost ofbirth control due to competition between pharmaceutical companiesand generic brands.
June Tehan, a registered nurse at the health center, said all ofthe prescription drugs the center provides have risen in cost. Thecenter, which only provides name brands, purchases the medicinefrom a warehouse at a low price and passes the savings on tostudents. The increased cost comes from pharmaceutical companiesthat have been trying to generate customer loyalty by creatingnewer versions of already popular drugs. The older versions nowhave generic versions that other companies produce.
Tehan said the companies market the new drugs as better than thegeneric, keep the prices low and then increase the prices once thecustomer becomes satisfied and dependent upon the new drug.
“The makers of Ortho Tri-Cyclen have lost their trademarkformula, which can now be used by generic brands,” Tehansaid. “Now they have come up with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, whichis a little different.”
The pharmacist at the health center was unable to provide howmuch prices had increased, but Tehan said there is a way around theprice increase and that’s to buy generic brands. “Weencourage students to be smart shoppers and to protect themselvesregardless of cost,” Tehan said.
Fees for prescribed contraception range from $13.05 for the newNuvaRing and $44.25 for Estrostep Fe, which is still cheaper thanwhat other pharmacies offer. The differences in the prescriptionslie in the methods of use and levels of estrogen and progestinreleased into the body.
However, protection isn’t the only use of birth controlpills. Some students use it for skin treatment, period regulationand pre-menstrual syndrome control. Despite price increases theneed overcomes the rising cost. Many students feel the necessity ofthe birth control outweighed having to pay more.
“If you need to be on [birth control], then priceshouldn’t matter,” Stephanie, a first-year studentsaid.
