why is contraception(for women) so damn expensive

[the_std]

Condoms are BC. Maybe you should refer to birth control pills as a hormonal supplement. Because when I compare them to condoms, it is apples to apples as a contraceptive. If you want to talk hormone therapy, we'll talk hormone therapy. But not now. I'm drunk.

But condoms are single-use. They're contraceptives and nothing more. They have no alternative medical significance. Whereas the pill is a contraceptive and then some more stuff. You can't really say "well, let's compare the contraception to the contraception" because the debate here is about the pill as a whole, not just the not-getting-pregnant side of it.

[Fashion Lad!]

But condoms are single-use. They're contraceptives and nothing more. They have no alternative medical significance. Whereas the pill is a contraceptive and then some more stuff. You can't really say "well, let's compare the contraception to the contraception" because the debate here is about the pill as a whole, not just the not-getting-pregnant side of it.

So, it does significantly more than prevent pregnancy. And it's pretty much right on par with condoms. When I buy a car, the more features I get the more I pay for it, so since BC pills do more, you should have to pay more. Features.

I'm just getting frustrated that you're not listening what I really am trying to say.

[BroomJockey]

I'm just getting frustrated that you're not listening what I really am trying to say.

We are. You aren't. Why should something that quite a few women need just to function like a human, and need on a non-interrupted basis be expensive to the point of near-gouging. You'd think through economy of scale alone they'd be able to hit a lower price point. We've established that sans insurance in other countries, it's possible to get it for near-on half the price people in the US are paying.

You're saying the price is fair, because your choice of fuck-accompanyment is expensive on a per-use basis, as if it's equivalent. It's not. You can save money simply by not having sex. We're saying its gouging because for many women, it's not a choice to not take it, because when you start, you keep on or you lose everything you've taken. So they need to pay whatever they're charged. Hell, it's near extortion for some women. Pay or lay in bed in crippling pain for a few days a month, missing work.

[Greenday]

Broom, if you are going to argue for cheaper prices for birth control pills, you might as well argue for cheaper prices for all prescription drugs. As I've said, the health care industry is more in it to make money than to help people.

[BroomJockey]

Broom, if you are going to argue for cheaper prices for birth control pills,

Hey, as has been demonstrated, we already got the cheaper prices up here, so I'm not arguing squat, really. From a business POV, it's a great model. Charge an arm and a leg, people can't exactly say no.

[Fashion Lad!]

BroomJockey, I'm on my stupid WinMo phone, So I can't copy and paste all the times that I said it should be cheaper or that it was a lot of money to pay.

Me: It is expensive, but right on par with men's.. I'm not saying it shouldn't be cheaper.
BroomJockey: You're saying the price is fair.

Double-u tee eff?!

My main gripe is we're comparing the cost of 2 different classes of drugs. My cold medicine is cheaper than my BC, why? My pain killers are cheaper than my BC pills, why? My Kenworth Semi is more expensive than my Ford F-150, why?

Don't put words in my mouth.

[lupo pazzesco]

My main gripe is we're comparing the cost of 2 different classes of drugs. My cold medicine is cheaper than my BC, why? My pain killers are cheaper than my BC pills, why? My Kenworth Semi is more expensive than my Ford F-150, why?

Don't put words in my mouth.

I don't know that this was the intent, but in light of your argument re: comparing two different drugs? I pointed out I was on vicodin for the pain. For the exact same reason I needed the bc, and yet a class1 , highly addictive, highly regulated narcotic, was easier and less expensive than a pill that is, essentially, a high dose of estrogen that kickstarts my body into behaving correctly. Two different classes? yes. Same uses? Yes.

condoms, TWO uses, only a single use per, really. BC, MORE than 2 uses, go off it and you're screwed, and paying more per day to use it than one would pay for a single use condom.

I'm not ignorign the point you're trying to make, simply trying to say that while you thing such things shouldn't be compared, in reality it makes sense to compare them in light of the argument. YOu can't say, "Oh, well because I think they're 2 different things, we shouldn't compare them." (Not saying YOU specifically), when the points being made by the comparisons are valid, in my opinion.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Just a note; I first went on the pill at the age of twelve cuz of prolonged, irregular, heavy and painful periods as well as terrible PMS. I certainly was not sexually active at twelve. I was taking the pill for years before becoming sexually active, so to class it as just a contraceptive is ignoring that side of it.

[DesignFox]

Is $30-50 a month without insurance?

<snip>

*cough*

Yea, before I had insurance, my out of pocket expense for pills was $50 bucks a pack for name-brand and $35 per pack generic.
<snip>

I'm currently very lucky to have insurance with a prescription plan. I get my generic pills now for $30 for a 3 month supply.

<snip>

Before I had insurance, an annual visit to the OBGYN would cost me $150. Pap smear would cost an additional $70 and was billed to me after my results came in.

Now, I pay a $50 "specialist" fee and as long as my office uses the appropriate lab, I don't have to pay for the pap smear.

Making sure I don't have cancer AND can continue taking my BC is expensive. I went on the pill for many reasons, not just because I like sex and I don't want babies. Even when I'm single, I continue my BC because I like being able to function 30-31 days out of the month, 12 months a year.

I don't expect anyone who has not experienced crippling cramps, waterfall bleeding or kill-me-now migraines to understand what a wonderful thing the pill is. It's a nice added bonus that if a condom breaks during sex, I don't have to have a panic attack.

Now that I'm getting close to the 30 year mark, I will also have to start considering getting a mammogram done each year. Don't know yet what THAT'S gonna cost me. Hopefully, my insurance will cover those, too.

[Fashion Lad!]

While I don't argue BC is expensive, I just don't think it's fair to compare its costs to other medications.

I

If insurance companies do cover ED meds (I don't know, I haven't had to check into that ) then they should also cover BC. I'm in total agreement with whomever said that.

(Note, I do not say that BC is cheap and you guys are complaining over nothing. I'm not saying that at all. I'm not saying it shouldn't be cheaper. ... I always get bit when it comes to female issues talk)

I never argued that BC pills were only used for just that one cause. And I never argued that the price was right on them. I don't think it's fair to compare them to other medications, especially when those medications can serve and entirely different purpose.

BC pills should be as well. I do believe BC pills should be cheaper (so should condoms) but, it's a matter of demand. A lot of people don't want to be pregnant and the pharmaceutical has just the thing.

Because you guys keep trying to argue points I already agree with you on. Look at the varying costs of BC pills first, then look at what they are in comparison to other hormonal therapy drugs. Then look at them as a whole and say they need to be cheaper because they are necessary for women to function properly. My main confusion with comparing drugs is, "My BC pills are more expensive than my Tylenol 3." To me that is like comparing a Kenworth Semi to a for F-150. One is inherently so much more because how much more goes into it.

[Boozy]

I completely get what you're saying, FashionLad. Basically, you can't compare the costs of birth control with...well, anything other than birth control. The ingredients and research that go into The Pill are different than the ingredients and research that went into aspirin.

So the best way of looking at it is comparing the cost of hormonal birth control in the US to the relative cost (adjusting for exchange rates) in other countries. And the US is still more expensive. So there are obviously factors involved in the pricing of American birth control -- and almost every other prescription drug -- other than the production cost (which includes cost-inflating patents) plus a small margin.

But we already knew that.

[Fashion Lad!]

I completely get what you're saying, FashionLad. Basically, you can't compare the costs of birth control with...well, anything other than birth control. The ingredients and research that go into The Pill are different than the ingredients and research that went into aspirin.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why does every always say things better than me?

[lupo pazzesco]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why does every always say things better than me?

Because, at least to my interpretation of it, you kept saying "but we can't compare X to Y because I don't think they're the same"

Lost in translation is all, I think, and I apologize if that was frustrating. But it was equally frustrating on the other end, again, to my interpretation, to be told that I shouldn't compare to X to Y despite the reasoning behind it because they weren't the same. Make sense?

[Fashion Lad!]

Because, at least to my interpretation of it, you kept saying "but we can't compare X to Y because I don't think they're the same"

Lost in translation is all, I think, and I apologize if that was frustrating. But it was equally frustrating on the other end, again, to my interpretation, to be told that I shouldn't compare to X to Y despite the reasoning behind it because they weren't the same. Make sense?

I didn't do too well at Algebra.. so....

Nah, I got it.

[lupo pazzesco]

Now you go and bring math into it.

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