Editorial | College students need affordable birth control

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Posted: 4/2/07

Playing it safe in the sack just became a lot more expensive for college students (see page 1). Budget-reducing legislation is escalating the price of oral contraceptives for women in college. This could pose serious problems if it discourages the use of birth control. Contraceptives must remain affordable on college campuses in order to ensure the financial and physical health of students who aren't ready to be parents.

Before December, Medicaid gave rebates to drug companies so they could sell oral contraceptives to university health-care providers (i.e. SU health center) at reduced costs. College students received discounts on their birth control as a result. In December, a 2005 deficit-reducing bill went into effect and ended the rebate program, increasing the price companies charge for the medication. This increase was in turn passed on to students, and now they face the prospect of paying up to three times more for birth control, depending on their insurance coverage and what university they attend.

Many university students will find a way to afford the higher prices, but that could keep them from purchasing other necessities. No one should be forced to choose between buying birth control or toothpaste, but the financial crunch of college might force women to do so. Birth control pills can already cost as much as $60 dollars per month at the SU health center, so price increases will be harsh. Regardless of whether the rising prices make birth control unaffordable or whether they merely make women pinch pennies a little harder, it is never good to have to pay more for a necessity.

There are alternatives to purchasing affordable birth control through college pharmacies. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood can sometimes distribute contraceptives for free, depending on the case. But these groups are working with limited resources and can't always offer supplies in advance. If a woman acquiring her birth control from Planned Parenthood is going on a long trip, she might be out of luck. These organizations could also be in trouble if they are forced to meet skyrocketing demand because of cuts in the federal budget.

Condoms aren't an adequate substitute for the pill. Out of every 100 women whose partners use condoms, 15 will become pregnant within a year, but only eight out of every 100 women using oral contraceptives will become pregnant in that time, according to Planned Parenthood.

The accessibility of the contraceptives also poses a large problem. Although Planned Parenthood is close to Syracuse University's campus, students at other colleges don't have the luxury of a nearby alternative to their university pharmacy. Affordable birth control needs to be available within walking distance of every college.

College students are going to have sex regardless of the availability of oral contraceptives, so the government should do its best to protect their interests and promote cheap birth control. It gives students the best chance to finish their education, rather than have their studies derailed by an unplanned pregnancy. The government should either resume offering the rebates that give students lower birth control prices, or pursue another way to cut the cost of the medication.

Universities should also consider covering at least part of the price increase. SU has enough oral contraceptives stockpiled to last the remainder of the semester, but prices will likely jump in the fall. Administrators should plan on subsidizing birth control in order to keep it affordable.

If the price of birth control remains high, more students will be parents, or fewer students will be able to pay for their needs. Neither circumstance builds a healthy campus environment. Either the government or universities must step up and meet the need for cheap birth control.