toledoblade.com --

Area college students are paying another $10 to $30 a month for birth control pills - or up to 300 percent more than a couple of years ago. Some people on campuses fear the hike may result in women forgoing the prescription drug and having unplanned pregnancies.

Colleges for years have been able to purchase oral contraceptives from drug companies at lower, clinic prices. Yet recent Medicare reimbursement changes unintentionally made it prohibitively expensive for the drug firms to continue that practice, and universities are passing on increased costs to students, some college health officials said.

"It's an unfortunate consequence for our students who choose to use birth control," said Dr. Glenn Egelman, director of student health and chief physician at Bowling Green State University.

He added: "We're just disappointed for the added burden some of our students may have to experience."

University of Toledo student Kelly Kirby of Monroe said she already pays for health insurance through the university, and a price increase for birth control is more of an inconvenience than a financial burden.

"It's just one more thing to add to the list," said Ms. Kirby, who has a year of college left.

For some younger students, though, additional costs for birth control may be too much, and unplanned pregnancies would be hardest on them because they are just starting out, Ms. Kirby said. Or women may switch from monthly options, such as Organon Inc.'s NuvaRing vaginal device, to cheaper daily pills and forget to take them in the usual chaos of college life, she said.

UT junior Kimberly Williams, who gets health insurance and prescriptions through her mother's insurance plan, said students will have to deal with higher prices and make financial choices to avoid pregnancy.

"It's up to you - do you want a child, or do you want the pill?" she reasoned. "Should you get the frapp, or should you get your pills?"

Nearly 40 percent of female college students use oral contraceptives, according to the American College Health Association.

Both UT and BG have stockpiled birth control pills, but those supplies will run out, officials said.

UT still has some oral contraceptives that are as low as about $16 a month, or about $4 more than a year ago, and is able to buy some prescriptions at clinic prices under contracts, said Norine Wasielewski, senior director of university health services.

"We made every effort possible … to minimize the impact on our students," she said.

Otherwise, average generic birth control at UT now costs $20 to $25 a month, while name brands typically cost $25 to $52 a month, Ms. Wasielewski said.

At BG, meanwhile, birth control that cost $15 a month three years ago now costs $30 to $45 a month, Dr. Egelman said.

All universities that sell birth control are affected, and it wasn't a surprise, Dr. Egelman said. Drug companies started phasing out clinic birth control packs several years ago, he said.

Some smaller universities in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, such as Heidelberg College in Tiffin, sell prescription birth control. Others don't have health centers or, if they do, don't sell oral contraceptives, including the University of Findlay and Adrian College.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:
jmckinnon@theblade.com
or 419-724-6087.

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