<p>I was privy to a conversation today among about 10 high school students who were discussing some recent news topics/current events. One of the boys asked if what he’d heard on a talk show was correct. “Does birth control really cost $3000 a year?” One of the girls remarked that it depends on what type is used. As that particular ‘factory’ has been closed at my house for a number of years, I’m wondering what an accurate figure might be…How much does a year’s supply of the BC pill cost? What is the price tag, for example, on the long term IUDs I’ve seen advertised?</p>
<p>I think that boy must have added an extra zero on to the cost. The pill is anywhere from $20-50/month. Plus the cost of the gyn exam. I don’t have any idea what the IIUD costs.</p>
<p>This totally varies with the type of pill and whether it is available in generic form–the cost can range up to $200 per month.</p>
<p>The student was probably making a reference to recent testimony by a Georgetown Law Student on what contraception costs. I have seen some reports that the amount ($3,000) refers to the cost for three years of school.</p>
<p>[IUDs</a> Most Cost-Effective Birth Control](<a href=“http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/news/20030729/iuds-most-cost-effective-birth-control]IUDs”>Best Birth Control: Types, Effectiveness, and How It Works)</p>
<p>This shows birth control pills have cost about $2500 for five years.</p>
<p>copay for popular bc pill now $70. per month</p>
<p>Now that I recall, I think my OB/GYN would generally GIVE me free samples of BC pills, just enough to have me come back for the next visit, I think. I finally fired him after 5 years because he couldn’t tell me why he thought I needed to stay on them forever and would never had a discussion of pros/cons, risks/benefits.</p>
<p>Like many/most Rxs, I think they range in price, depending on whether they’re generic & where you purchase them from. Costco, WalMart, Sams Club & other Big Boxes tend to have good, low prices on meds.</p>
<p>In any case, I’m sure the cost of BC pills is MUCH lower than costs society will pay if people have unintended kids.</p>
<p>Historically, don’t believe we as a society have provided most types of contraception at no charge and have mixed feelings about that. Will NOT get into the politics of all of that.</p>
<p>Don’t know what other societies have done about this issue either, nor the costs.</p>
<p>Co-pays generally vary according to your benefit plan, whether the particular med is ON formulary or not, whether it is brand or generic and probably the phase of the moon (only somewhat sarcastic here).</p>
<p>But things like Depo-Provera are much more expensive than BC pills.</p>
<p>Ah, new Priuses also cost MUCH more than a beat up 15 year old car like the one I drive. </p>
<p>I think everyone recognizes that there is a vast array of offerings among birth control, with varying degrees of compliance and reliability. There is also a new ring that is available that is replaced monthly that is a BC device I saw at a recent health conference. Don’t know the pricing on that either.</p>
<p>Where do lines get drawn as to what is or is NOT funded by society and the resulting consequences? Should everyone be entitled to the new priuses? 2nd hand beater bike? Something in between? Nothing?</p>
<p>You can get 24 condoms for about $7. That should be good for a month for most people, right? So figure less than a hundred bucks a year and you get STD protection as well.</p>
<p>Here’s the actual testimony that was the source of the $3000 figure–which was over three years, not one year. What this lady said has been widely (and deliberately) misunderstood.</p>
<p><a href=“http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/statement-Congress-letterhead-2nd%20hearing.pdf[/url]”>http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/statement-Congress-letterhead-2nd%20hearing.pdf</a></p>
<p>This is also the lady that Rush Limbaugh called a “slut” and a “prostitute.” Read her testimony and see what you think.</p>
<p>Doesn’t Viagra cost about $6 per pill? Any of those rhymes-with-ricks want insurance companies to stop paying for that? Is the Catholic Church morally opposed to paying for geezers to get their Viagra? How many of THEM are using it in relationships where procreation is a likely or desired result? </p>
<p>Sickening.</p>
<p>She’s a fine young woman. Flush Limbaugh is a vicious gasbag. He should be ashamed of himself, but he is apparently incapable of feeling shame. BTW, hasn’t Flush been married several times? How many children has he fathered? Just curious…</p>
<p>It’s about 70’ ampnth for my Dds, with insurance. Whats scary is the recalls. Imagine if Viagra made you limp those drug companies would be oita business, but faulty birth control, eh, sadly doesn’t draw attention.</p>
<p>Ps on daughter is in a two year relationship, the other is on the pill and uses condoms, just cuz.</p>
<p>Many insurances do not cover Viagra and the like.</p>
<p>I think her saying $3,000 for 3 years was stating a pretty high sum for a product that can be obtained much more cheaply. I agree with HImom. We don’t all need the new car when the cheaper one will get us to the same place; e.g. - aren’t many bc available gneerically?</p>
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<p>Unfortunately condoms don’t help out the with many conditions (some painful and potentially serious) which can be alleviated with birth control pills.</p>
<p>$60.15/month for our college D through our insurance (generic, by the way)…not inexpensive!</p>
<p>And I wonder what it would be without insurance?</p>
<p>^^^^hmmm…</p>
<p>do you mean the cost of the pill without insurance…</p>
<p>or the cost of NOT using the pill???</p>
<p>Who makes these things? (ticker symbols preferred)</p>
<p>$3000 for three years of bc pills seems high, but the woman in question needed them to help control her ovarian cysts (NOT primarily for birth control). I don’t know, but maybe it was a more expensive pill that was needed for that medical purpose.</p>
<p>I needed a long term IUD about 8 - 10 years ago and my co-pay was $100. If I had had to pay the full $500 just for the device, plus the nurse-midwife’s fee, I wouldn’t have been able to get it. It saved me from a decade of anemia, which was why I needed it. H already had a vasectomy.</p>