2007 has not been kind to poor college students on birth control pills. Since the Deficit Reduction Act took effect in January, the price of birth control for college students has gone from pennies a day to around $50 a month. That may not seem like much, but for a student sans steady income, it makes the pill a luxury. The American College Health Association reports that as pill prices rise, so do student visits for emergency contraception and pregnancy tests.
The solution is simple: Change the language of a few bills to include college health providers on the list of discount-eligible pharmaceutical providers, at no expense to the taxpayer. Supporters include Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
It should be noted by those blocking such action that women at that age are prescribed birth control to regulate a wide array of medical issues aside from pregnancy prevention.
Posted by Kristin Mehler
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50 Comments
Yeah, but if they don’t get pregnant then they can’t get abortions and the Republicans will lose a platform to whine about and Operation Rescue can’t beg for money.
So $50/mo is the cost of fooling around? Charge the first few, then let the rest ride free!
Pay Attention to the topic –
Kristin has some personal issues about this.She said “It should be noted by those blocking such action that women at that age are prescribed birth control to regulate a wide array of medical issues aside from pregnancy prevention.”
This does seem to be the universal health care we get from the Republicans.
No negotiation prescriptions for medicare recipients. (It keeps the bank account full at the drug manufacturers and keeps the political donations coming in.)Full price birth control for those pesky women college students. (Keep them barefoot and pregnant to maintain the status quo. They tend to be liberal and might even “gasp” support a woman for president!)Support SCHIP/child health care only at the bare minimum. (We have to keep them poor so when they grow up they have to work as our landscapers and pool boys.)Absolutely no way we can support a universal health care plan. (We have to keep them poor and tied to their job. Now we have their health tied to the company store.)
And they wonder why people don’t trust the Republicans any more!
Universal health care will be rationed health care.
The pill is a luxury for everyone who uses it. Those who want to use the pill should have to pay for it.
A couple of questions–If the pill is being prescribed for a medical condition other than birth control, shouldn’t it be covered by the student’s health insurance (or her parents’ health insurance)?Aren’t there clinics like Planned Parenthood that give away free contraception to women who can’t afford it?
swallow makes an excellent point…college students are covered by their parents’ insurance until they are 22. There should be no major problem with them getting the pill, or any other medical treatment, if they need it.
As for the other anti-Republican whining, if you look at the actual $$ figures, social spending has increased tremendously in the last 7 years. Just because the Democrats haven’t managed to completely bankrupt our country by supporting everyone who doesn’t feel like paying their own bills is no reason to ignore the fact that our taxes support millions who could earn a living.
Our country won’t go bankrupt by providing for those of us who cannot provide for themselves, we’ll do it by shunning our own while nation building when we said we never would.
why are we complaining about the cost of birth control when restraint or responsibility (like condoms) is free or much cheaper?
stupid article.
No doubt someone is hoping for the Hugh Hefner Federal College Contraceptive Fund be created, so college age students can copulate freely at government expense.
Let’s put in pharmacy in every student center around the U.S. that specializes in condoms, birth control pills, creams, foams, pregnancy kits, STD prevention kits and all of the other things that involve spread-leg techology.
Just a couple of points, not all insurance companies pay for birth control, also many parents don’t have insurance, so not all college students have insurance.
Why shouldn’t college health services be able to negoiate prices? Isn’t this America where we have free markets?
Also part of the fees students pay fund the college health services.
Planned parenthood does not give away birth control pills, there is a charge for the exam and for the pills. It is on a sliding scale, but still not always affordable to someone on a shoe string budget. Then there is the matter of transportation. Many college students don’t have cars.
Mom of 5..have you heard of the pill?Most college students who are living on their own and working would qualify for Medicaid benefits, and then birth control would be free for them. It’s much cheaper to provide someone reliable birth control than to pay their expenses for giving birth.The neocon idea that everyone who is low income is a loser or a slacker is stupid. Someone who is in school trying to build a future for themselves should be able to get the medical care they need to succeed.That’s why I love the idea of Nationalized Health Care..then the “haves” won’t get to feel superior by looking down on the “have not..yets”.
Prediction:
(Already partly proven)
Many who will post here against availability of the pill will also be found on threads arguing against a womans right to choose.
The average height of a European male is 6′0.4″, the average height of American males is 5′10″. They attribute this to Europeans having Nationalized Health Care, making good prenatal and medical care accessable to all children. Those countries rank in the top in world for having good health care..America ranks in the bottom third.Health care should be a basic right, not just a priviledge for select groups of citizens.There is a good article about it in this month’s National Geographic
When I was a college student, I certainly was NOT covered under my mom’s insurance. Neither are many others who rely on this. This is a very big deal, we must get this changed.
“not all insurance companies pay for birth control,”
We can thank the RR repubs for that. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
It makes me ill that so many insurance companies don’t allow birth control. I guess they look at a pregnancy as more money they can suck from a person.
This Wiki Article disagrees with the average height Mary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height
There are a lot more races in the U.S. that also lower the average height of males. Indigenous peoples, Mexicans and Central Americans, most oriental groups and etc. lower the height average.
If one was to compare strictly Euro-genetic Americans to Europeans, I pretty well imagine the average height would be very close.
That has more to due to surviving genetic lines than it does nutrition or health care.
For example, in my family, on my father’s side of the family in the great grandfather’s generation of brothers – they ranged from five foot ten inches tall to six foot six inches tall. The great grandsons of all of those are all above six feet tall with the tallest being six foot eight inches tall.
On my maternal side, the average in the great grandparent age category were all five foot ten and below. Their great grand children are about the same height, with a couple reaching the six foot even mark. Interestingly enough, the great great children who are male and have dutch, german and other euro ancestries on their maternal side are much taller by 2-4 inches. Family reunions show some of the sons to be six foot two and above, some reaching six foot five.
Yes, I think genetics has more to do with height than nutrition, at least from what I’ve witnessed.
Many who will post here against availability of the pill will also be found on threads arguing against a womans right to choose.
Posted by: J R | December 24, 2007 at 09:39 AM
——————————————————————–JR, many are posting against more “free” stuff from the Government – ie. Hard-working American taxpayers.
No one is saying birth control should not be available. Like everything else people want, they should pay for it – THEMSELF.
The United Socialist States of America does not YET give away everything people want, for ‘free’.
The whiners here, are the ones holding their hands out for more free stuff.
Government is NOT Santa Claus.
Hmmmm’s post above was not so far off the mark. The $50 should be split between the woman and the man (or men)involved together. That would then be $25 or less (with multiple partners) per woman per month.
$50/3 = $16.66 each$50/4 = $12.50 each$50/5 = $10.00 each$50/10= $5.00 each$50/20= $2.50 each$50/50= $1.00 each
Or at least the woman could require that her men at least buy her a few dinners and movies, and that would more then offset the $50 pill cost each month.
The tightie righties will bitch about providing prescription to prevent unwanted pregnancies, then when the student has to drop out and care for the kid, they’ll bitch about providing the child’s welfare. They just love a good catch 22!
“The pill is a luxury for everyone who uses it. Those who want to use the pill should have to pay for it.”
The pill is one of the only drugs where EVERYONE benefits. The woman, her partner and all the taxpayers who would be paying for her pregnancy costs.
Prevention of unwanted pregnancy is a no-brainer. Who are these people who believe that an unwanted pregnancy is better than a subsidized BC pill???
It is not a luxury for a sexually active woman who doesn’t want a child. It’s a necessity. The alternative for her is abortion, does that sound better to you?
In Kansas I, along with other pro-choicers, lobbied the legislature to have the pill covered in all state insurance programs. we argued it would save the insurance companies money and reduced unwanted pregnancies (and therefore abortion). Susan Wagle killed the measure because she is pro-abortion.
Any phenotypic expression of a genetic trait is influenced – and in some cases limited by – environmental factors (which in all animals includes nutrition – amongst many others)
Just a Genetics 101 reminder.
Thank you.
“Susan Wagle killed the measure because she is pro-abortion.”
Susan is actually anti-sex: a position that has been a populist winner for far right Republicans…
I just figured her husband was anti-sex. I can’t blame him.
It is not a luxury for a sexually active woman who doesn’t want a child. It’s a necessity. The alternative for her is abortion, does that sound better to you?
Posted by: Tara | December 24, 2007 at 12:36 PM
What difference does it make how it sounds to me?
I take responsibility for my own actions.
Do you?
Don’t threaten the taxpayer with “you either pay for the free birth control pills or you pay for the free abortion or you pay for welfare for the poor single mommy and her baby” CRAP.
You are responsible for your own birth control and your own babies.
Your problems are not my problems.
You Liberals can’t even have sex without Government helping them.
Is there anything you can do on your own, besides beg for welfare?
“Don’t threaten the taxpayer with “you either pay for the free birth control pills or you pay for the free abortion or you pay for welfare for the poor single mommy and her baby” CRAP.”
Well, it’s true, not a threat. If a woman can’t afford $50 a month for birth control or health insurance, chances are she’ll be needing assistance to raise the child. And guess what? YOU are paying for it, Mike Herroni.
Unless you are seriously suggesting that we can make women not have sex if they can’t afford the pill, that’s the reality. Rather than waxing about ideals and responsibility, maybe it would be wiser to look at the facts and make a decision on based on what “is”, not what “should be”.
College women. Seriously. Do you expect all college women to abstain from sex for 4-8 years until they get a job?
Ask yourself, “Is this realistic?”
Tara,
Many years ago, I made 250/month less taxes at the age of 16 while going to High School. Surely, an adult who is 18 or older can squeeze out a $50.00/month in discretionary income?
Unless you are seriously suggesting that we can make women not have sex if they can’t afford the pill, that’s the reality. Rather than waxing about ideals and responsibility, maybe it would be wiser to look at the facts and make a decision on based on what “is”, not what “should be”.
Posted by: Tara | December 24, 2007 at 05:18 PM
No one is saying people shouldn’t have sex. People should be responsible for themselves and their own children. The government was not formed so that you could have free sex.
“Some men see things as they are and say, “Why?” I dream of things that never were and say, “Why not?”
frequently attributed to Robert F. (Bobby) Kennedy, who used it in a speech which his brother, Edward F. (Teddy) Kennedy quoted at RFK’s funeral.
RFK:
“Since the days of Greece and Rome when the
word ‘citizen’ was a title of honor, we have often
seen more emphasis put on the rights of
citizenship than on its responsibilities. And today,
as never before in the free world, responsibility
is the greatest right of citizenship and service is
the greatest of freedom’s privileges.”
JFK:
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
Liberals:
Ask not what you can do for yourselves, ask what the country can do for you.
Hey, Mike–
Like you got any in college.
Hehehe.
amazing. College students want the federal government to pay for the pill. The feds are paying subsidies for people to be able to watch television. Many here demand the feds provide FREE health care for everyone.
Uh..one question…who pays for all this?
Jayum, spreading your legs is not any sort of big talent, unless that’s all YOU got.
And Jayum, you’re the type that DOES need government help to get whatever sex you can.
I know why you need free healthcare now.
Keep telling yourself that, Mike:
“Yeah, sex is no big deal.”
Those grapes are probably sour anyway.
Rather than debate whether someone should or shouldn’t have sex, why not approach it practically? That $50mo. would be money very well spent, given how much we’ll pay to support all those kids for 18yrs.
Here a question, Why did the cost the pill increase so dramatically? and isn’t it more cost effective to provide birth control at a reasonable cost vs welfare, and abortions.
Your problems are not my problems.
Posted by: Mike Herroni | December 24, 2007 at 03:56 PM
It sounds as if you might enjoy a more solitary and self made life.
I suggest island living. There are many small uninhabited bits of land in the South Pacific where you could be very happy.
I’ll help ya pack!
This probably will come as a stunning surprise to so-called “conservative” posters to this forum, but sex feels good.
If you guys ever have sex, you might discover that phenomenon. Since having sex is probably unlikely for you guys, trust me on this: sex feels good.
People tend to do stuff that feels good. Even the sainted Ronald Reagan boinked Nancy before they got married.
A tremendous amount of issues involving reproductive rights would become non-issues is moralists would simply recognize that people are likely to have sex even when pregnancy is not the goal at hand.
Any and every form of birth control should be readily available to any and everyone who wants it.
MonkeyHawk:
Your post at 11:38 on Christmas Eve tells us much about your sex life.
Christmas Eve, if you are not getting any at that time, then you are not getting any.
For you Socialists out there, consider how pitiful you must be, if you must depend on the government for everything in your lives, including free birth control.
How pathetic must you be if you can’t have sex without the government’s help!
And Monky, you should have asked Santa for sex for Christmas. You sure had time to blog with nothing else to do.
Any and every form of birth control should be readily available to any and everyone who wants it.
Posted by: MonkeyHawk | December 24, 2007 at 11:38 PM
One more NEED, that the Government Nanny must provide.
Good God Monky, do you want Government to pay for your porn magazines too?
Monky, you spankin the monkey instead of getting any?
Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Man, you must be coyote ugly!
Yes, I shall forever be known as the Monkey Spanker.
Hawk was only a moniker I could dream of having earned.
Hey Mike, think of it this way: Dr Tiller performs over a thousand abortions each year, and how many mothers give birth to children they never intended to have? That’s the reality of life in this country, like it or not.
What if birth control was free and accessable to everyone who wanted it? Wouldn’t reducing the numbers of abortions and unwanted births make it worthwhile? Just think of how much money it would save the taxpayers and how much heartache it would spare the moms in the BIG picture.Prevention…I can’t think of a better way to spend taxpayer money.
What a selfish argument to make.
Free BC to college students makes perfect sense from an economic standpoint. It is much better to spend $50 a month for four years, while the woman is in college preparing for a job where she can take benefits and pay for her own BC later in life. The alternative is to pay $200 a month in welfare payments, for eighteen years. $2400 for BC verses $43,200 in welfare payments. Which sounds better to you?
Wait, wait, I’m sorry, I forgot it is much more fun to run your mouth criticizing other people’s lifestyles, and legislating morality, than it is to do the math and make the most cost-efficient choice. And they say liberals waste the government’s money… hypocrites.
It’s also very amusing to see how some people make a big deal about how little sex others are getting, when they’re the same ones posting ten times to one thread and googling every Kennedy quote ever uttered.
Here’s a Kennedy quote for ya:
“My head hurts.” –JFK, Nov 22 1963
“My head hurts.” — RFK, June 5 1968
If it was up to me, birth control would be in the water and no one could have a kid until they took parenting classes, passed a test, and made enough money to support a family.Just think about how many social problems that would prevent and how much taxpayer money it would save.