Health Center offers discount on birth control, medications

For many years, the IU Health Center has offered students medication at discounted prices. Some wonder why and how the Health Center has such discounted costs on birth control and other medications. \nPharmacy Director Cheryl Thomas said the cheap prices have to do with the government. \n"We have a government contract that is usually given to universities and health clinics like Planned Parenthood by the manufacturers," Thomas said. \nThomas said pharmaceutical companies and the government want women to start birth control pills while they are in college in hopes they will pay retail price after graduation.\n"It's a wise move on the manufacturers' part, and it works for us," Thomas said. \nWhile many birth control pills are discounted, some are not. Birth control prescriptions such as Yasmin and the Ortho Evra patch aren't as cheap as others, Thomas said. Because the Health Center does not have a deal with the manufacturer, one pack of Yasmin is priced at $38. And while Ortho Evra is considered expensive at the discounted price of $20 for a one-month's supply, Yasmin is actually the most expensive pill at the Health Center.\nSome of the cheapest packs of birth control are Alesse, Nordette, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Mircette, Desogen, Cyclessa and Estrostep -- all offered for $10 per month.\n"Girls usually want to get the cheaper ones," Thomas said.\nThe Health Center also has discounts on other medications, such as some insulin and flu medications. They aren't discounted as much as birth control, but are cheaper than what a student would have to pay at a local pharmacy. \nBut many students still turn to local pharmacies to fill their birth control prescriptions. CVS pharmacist Ralph Smith said most students frequent the 24-hour pharmacy for the convenience. \nThe other reason students go elsewhere for their medication is because of their insurance plans, Smith said.\n"There is more pressure on companies to start covering (family) planning," Smith said.\nSmith said co-pays, the remaining price the consumer pays after the insurance company pays a portion of the medication cost, typically range from $5 to $39 per prescription of birth control. They depend on the contract the student's employers or parents have, and whether the medication is brand-name or generic. Smith said there is a higher cost with brand-name birth control medications and the cheapest birth control medications at CVS are the generic brands. \n"There is no difference in the hormone," Smith said.\nEven though generic brands are cheaper, Smith said not many students want to switch to them.\nAccording to the CVS Web site, if a student doesn't have insurance or her insurance doesn't cover birth control, she will pay anywhere from $34.99 to $41.59 for one month of medication. \n"If I see a student paying out-of-pocket, I will ask if they're a University student and tell them about the Health Center," Smith said.\nSophomore Stephanie Clark fills her birth control prescription regularly at the Health Center for $12 a month. At home, she would pay $36 per month at the local pharmacy. \n"I call in the prescription in the morning and then on my way back from class, I pick it up," Clark said. "The whole process takes about five minutes out of my day, once a month."\nSophomore Brianna Martinek has been getting her birth control from CVS since last semester, but recently decided to switch to the Health Center because of lower costs.\n"I think it's great," Martinek said. "If I can save money, of course I'm going to switch."\n-- Contact staff writer Chelsea McDonnough at cmcdonno@indiana.edu.