Sat Nov 24, 2012, 09:27 AM

Group pushes to take the pill OTC

Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:43 PM EST Updated: Nov 24, 2012 7:00 AM EST

... The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, says the evidence is strong that the pill is safe, and should not require a prescription.

Half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned, a statistic that hasn't changed in 20 years. Some of this is due to lack of access to contraception as well as cost ...

There are concerns. The price of the pill will go up if the medication is sold over-the-counter. It is also unclear what role insurance companies will play in picking up the costs ...

The pill is not recommended for certain women including smokers over the age of 35, or those with a history of blood clots.

http://www.kplctv.com/story/20159218/group-pushes-to-take-the-pill-otc

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7 replies	Author	Time	Post
Group pushes to take the pill OTC (Original post)	struggle4progress	Nov 2012	OP
If it goes OTC then the costs should come down also. However, people on any medicine long term	still_one	Nov 2012	#1
Insurance will not have to pay any of it. That is what OTC is really about. n/t	patricia92243	Nov 2012	#2
Although it will raise the cost for some people, it will lower the cost for many others.	Travis_0004	Nov 2012	#3
True	mzteaze	Nov 2012	#6
The poorest uninsured (Medicaid covered) could likely NOT afford it OTC.	summerschild	Nov 2012	#4
I don't know. I was put on the pill with too much estrogen (Ortho Novum 180)	catbyte	Nov 2012	#5
Condoms are OTC. Fair's fair.	HopeHoops	Nov 2012	#7

Response to struggle4progress (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 09:44 AM

still_one (31,079 posts)

1. If it goes OTC then the costs should come down also. However, people on any medicine long term

really should be monitored by their physician. Even people who take an aspirin a day are usually monitored for their platelets

So I guess I would suggest if it goes OTC, at least a label should be put on the product indicating this.

I don't think they will let it go OTC though, just the politics of it would prevent it

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Response to struggle4progress (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 09:49 AM

patricia92243 (7,550 posts)

2. Insurance will not have to pay any of it. That is what OTC is really about. n/t

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Response to patricia92243 (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 10:03 AM

Travis_0004 (936 posts)

3. Although it will raise the cost for some people, it will lower the cost for many others.

Going to the doctor without insurance is expensive, and takes time out of peoples day. Additionally, the price should drop when it goes OTC. So making it OTC would greatly help people without insurance.

I would support easier access to birth control assuming its safe to dispense without a doctors approval. I'm not a doctor, so I can't comment on that, but I do support the pill going OTC.

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Response to patricia92243 (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 01:40 PM

mzteaze (309 posts)

6. True

But if more people had access to FSA accounts, this could counteract it. You CAN use FSA to pay for certain OTCs.

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Response to struggle4progress (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 11:46 AM

summerschild (303 posts)

4. The poorest uninsured (Medicaid covered) could likely NOT afford it OTC.

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Response to struggle4progress (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 01:38 PM

catbyte (3,945 posts)

5. I don't know. I was put on the pill with too much estrogen (Ortho Novum 180)

for bleeding problems and my blood pressure soared into the stratosphere within 3 months (220/101). They took me off of it & my BP went right down to normal. If I hadn't been monitored I could have had a stroke at age 20.

I guess doctors know more than I do, but still.

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Response to struggle4progress (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:06 PM

HopeHoops (47,675 posts)

7. Condoms are OTC. Fair's fair.

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