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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Price of Pill for Students Soars

Rule change eliminates discounts at college health centers

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(Newser) – Female students at US colleges may be cutting back on reliable contraceptives because a quirk in a federal law has made birth-control pills up to four times more expensive, health officials warn. A recent change in Medicaid regulations means drug companies no longer offer big discounts to health centers where students and low-income women obtain the pills, the New York Times reports.

One student reports the price of her monthly packet of pills jumped from $12 to $50. "That doesn’t mean you’ll stop having sex," she said. Congress may reinstate the discounts, which were inadvertently eliminated in Medicaid legislation. “This is such a mainstream issue,” said Planned Parenthood's president. But some critics wonder why college students got discounts in the first place.

The price of birth control pills have soared for students and low-income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.
The price of birth control pills have soared for students and low-income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.   (Archive Photos)
The price of birth control pills have leapt 400% for students and low income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.
The price of birth control pills have leapt 400% for students and low income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.   (Archive Photo)
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards, is greeted by Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, left, after a speech at the Planned Parenthood Annual Public Affairs Conference on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in Washington. Richards is lobbying to have drug company discounts on...
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards, is greeted by Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, left, after a speech at the Planned Parenthood...   (Associated Press)
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