Companies yet to lower birth control prices, despite overturn of Bush adminstration law
In today's economy, most students are looking to save money everywhere they can. Unfortunately, Hopkins students won't be saving any money on birth control this year.
Cheaper birth control has been anticipated ever since last March, when President Obama signed a bill altering the Deficit Reduction Act.
This act, which was passed by former President George W. Bush, had prevented pharmaceutical companies from marketing birth control to college health centers at lower prices. The bill that President Obama signed reversed this prohibition.
However, birth control prices for the most part have not dropped.
According to Alain Joffe, director of the Student Health and Wellness Center, the University has contacted all of the pharmaceutical companies that sell to the Center, but with the exception of one, none have lowered their prices.
As of now, the only contraceptive currently available for a cheaper price is Loestrin 24 Fe, which is now sold for 10 dollars a pack.
Most birth control pills range in price from 15 dollars to 25 dollars, although prices can go as high as 50 dollars a month, according to the teen and sexual health section of the Web site KidsHealth.org.
The Health and Wellness Center had not previously stocked Loestrin 24 Fe, but has now begun to do so because of the new price reduction, according to Joffe.
When asked for an explanation for the continued high prices of other oral contraceptives, Joffe was unsure.
However, he said that perhaps due to the current economic situation the companies feel that "they need every dollar they can get, or they have decided the program doesn't lead to increased sales".
Either way, prices haven't changed. However, students are still able to confidentially acquire birth control through the Health and Wellness Center.
All that is initially required of a student seeking to go on birth control is a visit to the Center, where they answer a series of questions. These questions ensure that the student won't have any adverse reactions to being on birth control. After that, she is given a few months' worth of contraception.
Cheaper birth control has been anticipated ever since last March, when President Obama signed a bill altering the Deficit Reduction Act.
This act, which was passed by former President George W. Bush, had prevented pharmaceutical companies from marketing birth control to college health centers at lower prices. The bill that President Obama signed reversed this prohibition.
However, birth control prices for the most part have not dropped.
According to Alain Joffe, director of the Student Health and Wellness Center, the University has contacted all of the pharmaceutical companies that sell to the Center, but with the exception of one, none have lowered their prices.
As of now, the only contraceptive currently available for a cheaper price is Loestrin 24 Fe, which is now sold for 10 dollars a pack.
Most birth control pills range in price from 15 dollars to 25 dollars, although prices can go as high as 50 dollars a month, according to the teen and sexual health section of the Web site KidsHealth.org.
The Health and Wellness Center had not previously stocked Loestrin 24 Fe, but has now begun to do so because of the new price reduction, according to Joffe.
When asked for an explanation for the continued high prices of other oral contraceptives, Joffe was unsure.
However, he said that perhaps due to the current economic situation the companies feel that "they need every dollar they can get, or they have decided the program doesn't lead to increased sales".
Either way, prices haven't changed. However, students are still able to confidentially acquire birth control through the Health and Wellness Center.
All that is initially required of a student seeking to go on birth control is a visit to the Center, where they answer a series of questions. These questions ensure that the student won't have any adverse reactions to being on birth control. After that, she is given a few months' worth of contraception.
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