When UW-Madison freshman Sierra Ready went to University Health Services to fill her birth control prescription, she was horrified to learn the price escalated from $8 to $32 for her monthly pack.
Before the Federal Deficit Reduction Act, UHS and other college health services were able to provide low-cost birth control to students. The bill, which went into effect Jan. 1, prevents pharmaceutical companies from providing these reduced prices to UHS and requires companies to break their current contracts with college health services nationwide.
Because UHS's pharmacy is now prohibited by law from giving the discounted rates, female students are forced to pay as much as four times the cost they paid previously. Even those who buy their birth control with insurance will suffer from the price increases.
UW-Madison Junior Shannon King found herself paying twice as much with insurance deductions.
""My insurance company was paying enough of the cost that I used to only pay $15, and now I have to pay $30,"" she said.
UHS Executive Director Kathleen Poi said the increases are substantial for students who relied on the health service's convenient prices in the past.
""For some people this will be a pretty significant burden, for others it will mean some choices will have to be made,"" she said. ""For some people it may mean that they have [to use] other alternatives.""
These heightened costs may be financially inconvenient for female students across campus.
""I don't make a lot of money, and birth control is something that you have to have,"" King said. ""It's another monthly bill I don't need.""
For students, this is more than a price increase.
""This is another way for the government to try legislate my body. It is unnecessary and ridiculous,"" Ready said.
According to UHS's website, switching to a less expensive generic brand or applying for aid with Wisconsin's Family Waiver Program may help female students avoid the raised prices.
Ready applied for the waiver but is unsure if or when she will qualify for the program. She said the inconvenience might cause her to stop taking birth control next month.
To learn more about the Deficit Reduction Act and how to apply for Wisconsin's Family Waiver Program, visit www.uhs.wisc.edu.
