Birth Control Costs

I have been taking loestrin for over a year and LOVE it (primarily because I don't get a period anymore). Anyways, they changed the program this year and it's no longer $24.00 a pack...........it's now $24.00 OFF a pack which means I will have to pay $51.00 a month! (Even with insurance!).

(I've been getting by on free samples but now they are out).

Anyways, I went on the loestrin last year because they apparently stopped making the cheap generic version of ortho tricyclen. At the time, there wasn't anything on the market that was really going to be cheaper.

I was wondering if anyone else is running into this and can make a recommendation of something that is cheaper. The pharmacist at CVS said there's been a lot of problems this year with women running into this. He was busy though so I didn't feel right bothering him for suggestions of what else is out there.

I am supposed to pick up my refill on Monday but if there's something cheaper/generic on the market I'd be willing to give it a try.


TIA!!!

Re: Birth Control Costs

The practice I go to will give 12 free samples so you don't have to worry about paying. Maybe try the office again, and ask for more samples or see if auto delivery by mail is cheaper.

Re: Birth Control Costs

I have no suggestions but $51 ...wow! I used to complain about how $24 was expensive when I was on that pill. Sheesh!

Re: Birth Control Costs

I'm on Junel its a generic of Loestrin and $10 for a 3 month supply, $51 is crazy for a month, I would definitely see if you can be switched to something else

Re: Birth Control Costs

Thanks ladies. I put a call into my Ob Gyn this AM and she's not in again until Monday so I will call her then to see if she can call CVS with a new script.

These health care costs............it just makes me

Re: Birth Control Costs

I had the same issue! Mine came out to $54!! I hate the thought of switching to a new BCP because I've had issues in the past with BC.

Re: Birth Control Costs

i take Microgestin which i believe is the Loestrin generic. you can ask your pharmacist for similar generic brands that is covered by your insurance - some pharmacist will call your dr and see which pill your dr wants to prescribe that is covered .

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I'm on seasonquie....it's over $200 for 3 months

I need to refill next week

I would pay $50 a month with a huge smile on my face

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Call Planned Parenthood to find out their prices. Sure, you'll need another exam but it still might be less.

At Planned Parenthood even at the highest income level I was paying 15.00 a pack for NAME BRAND birth control. Thru my health insurance it was 35.00.

Re: Birth Control Costs

I personally cannot justify paying that much ($50+) though for BC when DH and I are already on a very tight budget.

Message edited 3/26/2011 9:47:17 AM.

Re: Birth Control Costs

I took Mircette (generic: Kariva) for the last 15 years, and took it like Seasonique (just started a new pack instead of taking the week of placebos), so as to not get my period. I would get my period whenever I wanted to, which was maybe 4-5x a year.

I believe you can really do that with any pills. My OB said it was fine to do. I never had any side effects, got my period when I wanted to, and was able to get pregnant immediately.

I think I was paying $7 for a pack of pills.

Re: Birth Control Costs

Re: Birth Control Costs

You can try Costco too

My cat in NY was diabetic. Obviously not covered by my plan and his insulin was expensive. I called around and found that Costco was greatly cheaper than anywhere else. You can call them give them the drug name and info and they'll give you the price. Plus they take insurance

Its worth a call, I think.

Re: Birth Control Costs

Yep...this is exactly me. I enrolled in the $24 program last year..like oct..but had 2 free samples from the dr. the program ended 12/31 so i think i got 1 refill under the $24 plan. I had to re-enroll and do it twice b/c of course they changed it and it didnt go through the first time.

so now my cost was $48; my insurance is private and the prescription plan is discounted for the non preferred drugs. So it would normally cost me $72;

I got a letter from aetna saying If i used a generic preferred alternative such as Gildess FE, Junel FE, Microgestin FE my copay would be $15.

So im going to talk to my dr about switching to one of these.

also try your local planned parenthood. BC is usually cheap or sometimes free through them.

Re: Birth Control Costs

my dr gives coupons for birth control...its so expensive these days

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i paid $80 for 3 months and i wanted to scream , i asked them twice if it went through the insurance cause i couldnt believe it

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I went from LoEstrin to Microgestin to Junel. I haven't had any issues and the Junel cost me $11/mo.

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I started loestrin in January. I have been paying $24 a month through the program. My card is good for 12 refills through3/2012

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Wow that's a lot to pay for BCP!

Personally I was paying (with insurance) about $30.00 per month for BCP. I was on Yaz but we decided that in June we wanted to TTC, so I went off of it in January at the doctors recommendation. For the time being we're using condoms (which of course are way cheaper to me than having to pay the $30 per month!).

I just got a letter in the mail saying that due to "rising costs" that my co-pay would have been more than the $30.00 that I was paying back in December...thank goodness I don't have to pay the new cost (which would probably be about what your paying- $50-51).

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When i was on Loestrin 24 I got them delivered thru Medco. It was $65 for 3 months. Now i'm a differnt pill which is $10 for 3 months.

Message edited 3/26/2011 12:27:01 PM.

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I was taking generic Ortho TriCyclen until August. It was $10 a month. At $51 per month I would find a new pill

Re: Birth Control Costs

Check out Walmart too!

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ugh im dreading bringing my script to the pharamacy. Since the birth of my dd i have been taking loseaonque however i have gotten 6 months of it from the doctors office so in 2 months im going to have to start paying for it... Im hoping that i can call the doc office n they will have some more samples so i can get another 3 months free.. lol

Re: Birth Control Costs

I'm paying through the nose and I go through a pack every 3 weeks because I don't take placebos. They recently stopped sampling my pill. I can't switch because I have had problems with other pills and I'm done switching around. I really have to be on it for medical reasons, too and that is why I take them continuously with a 1 week break every few months.

Message edited 3/26/2011 1:09:31 PM.

Re: Birth Control Costs

When I didn't have insurance, I paid about $60 a month for bcp. But I figured it was worth the alternative of having a baby at a time when we really didn't have too much extra money laying around. It was a $60 well spent.