Heard this on NPR yesterday. My first thought: "Obamacare requires Health Insurance companies to pay 100%, no co-pay, of birth control for women. How will this affect profits for the BC manufacturers?"
Cynical? Perhaps. However, anyone followig Birth Control know that some side effects can be lethal.
If you participate in the poll below, please leave a comment below. If you vote "Yes, good idea" it would be interesting to know whether you are male or female and why you think it is a good idea. If you vote "No, bad idea, it would be interesting to know why you think so. Thank you.
Here's an OTC Birth Control justification:
The Affordable Care Act, beginning in August and Jan, 2013 (depending on a few details) requires Health Care Insurers to provide birth control WITH NO CO-PAYS.
So what could OTC Birth Control pills cost? About $2.00 a day according to the price list below
From WikiAnswers:
These are the prices for birth control at the #1 Birth Control pharmacy.
Prices:
Yasmin 21
63 tabs (21x3) - USD $65
$21.67 / month CAD $76 | GBP £33 | EUR €49
Yasmin 28
84 tabs (28x3) - USD $76 CAD $89 | GBP £39 | EUR €57
Yaz
84 tabs - USD $73 CAD $85 | GBP £37 | EUR €55
Triquilar 28
84 tabs - USD $65 CAD $76 | GBP £33 | EUR €49
Triquilar 21
126 tabs - USD $89 CAD $104 | GBP £46 | EUR €67
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Tadalafil
96 tabs - USD $219 CAD $257 | GBP £113 | EUR €165
Plan B
1 pack (2 tabs) - USD $42
Free Shipping CAD $49 | GBP £22 | EUR €32
Portia 28
168 Tablets (6 Packs of 28) - USD $79 CAD $93 | GBP £41 | EUR €60
Ortho-Evra
18 patches - USD $215
$35.83 / month CAD $252 | GBP £110 | EUR €162
Ortho Tri-cyclen 21
63 tabs - USD $69 CAD $81 | GBP £35 | EUR €52
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 28
28 tabs - USD $38 CAD $44 | GBP £19 | EUR €29
Ovral 21
63 tabs - USD $89 CAD $104 | GBP £46 | EUR €67
Ortho Tri-cyclen 28
84 tabs - USD $69 CAD $81 | GBP £35 | EUR €52
Ortho 777 21
63 tabs (21x3) - USD $67 CAD $78 | GBP £34 | EUR €50
Ortho-Cept 21
63 tabs - USD $52
Free Sample
CAD $61 | GBP £27 | EUR €39
Nuvaring
1 ring - USD $40
3 ring - USD $90 CAD $105 | GBP £46 | EUR €68
Alesse (21)
63 tabs - USD $79 CAD $92 | GBP £41 | EUR €59
So, now that birth control is 100% affordable, OB-GYNs are recommending that BC be moved from a prescription medicine, to over-the-counter?
Am I the only cynic in the room? The timing of this change of heart by the OB-GYNs seems odd to me.
More about birth control and the The Affordable Care Act from Planned Parenthood
Here's what I don't understand. I don't think anyone, if asked, would say they LIKE abortion; however, many of these same people are adamant, vocal, sometimes even murderous about abortion, while I think a majority of people feel that they have no right to dictate this emotional decision for others.
That said, access to free birth control has proven to reduce abortions.
Free birth control tied to drop in abortions
Honestly, it makes my brain hurt trying to square the conflicting No Abortion, No Birth Control crowds thinking. The Pope is very anti-birthcontrol.
Pope supports birth-control fight - Bishops oppose federal mandate
Excuse me, but these MEN don't have wombs. How is it acceptable that they think they have ANY right to dictate the terms of women's bodies? lives?
Women in America FINALLY have access to free birth control, if they can afford the doctor's visit or take advantage of clinics/services like Planned Parenthood, and the OB-GYNs are pushing to move the market to Over-The-Counter, an unaffordable alternative for too many women.
Head spinning proposal in my opinion.
Birth Control requires medical monitoring, as each woman has a different reaction to different BC products.
And YAZ is suspected by many to even cause death:
Yaz and Yasmin Deaths May Exceed 190 in United States Alone: Report
More than 190 American women may have died as a result of the potential side effects of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills, according to an organization devoted to curbing corporate misbehavior by Bayer.
We lost a friend that was taking Yaz, btw. Coincidence?
There are many lawsuits, as a matter of fact.
Yaz Lawsuit Information
Yours?
If birth control becomes an OTC product, how will young women be monitored? Who will guide them to make a good choice for them, who will have liability if a product is proven harmful? Are the OB-GYNs prescribing YAZ culpable if they lose a patient?
There are just too many questions, too many risks, and too much proof that Birth Control is a powerful drug and its use requires interaction between a woman and her doctor.