California bill would allow women to get year's worth of birth control

[TexasTowelie]

SACRAMENTO— California women who take birth control would have to make fewer trips to the pharmacy under a bill that would require insurers to cover up to a 12-month supply at one time.

Supporters say for birth control to be most effective, it must be taken consistently and argue the longer-term supply would reduce the potential for skipped doses and would lower instances of unintended pregnancy.

"Women are smart enough to carefully administer and use these drugs appropriately," said Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills, the bill's author.

She said limiting birth control to 30- or 90-day supplies — the current industry standard — may have made sense in the 1970s, when "the pill" came on the market and was unproven, but she's surprised it's still in practice.

Read more: http://napavalleyregister.com/ap/state/california-bill-would-allow-women-to-get-year-s-worth/article_71533526-fc4f-54c1-838c-38010f622b4c.html

[Travis_0004]

1. I have a better idea, make it otc.

[Laffy Kat]

2. Absolutely. nt

[Control-Z]

3. OTC is so expensive.

It comes straight out of one's own pocket. No insurance coverage whatsoever. The morning after pill is OTC but costs something like $40.00. I know of girls/women who can't necessarily afford that much for one pill. Unplanned pregnancies could probably be cut in half if all woman could afford to have a small supply at home, or at least have it covered by insurance.

[Travis_0004]

4. IF you have insurance

If you don't, you have the additional cost of finding a doctor, and there is little incentive to make it cheaper, since most people don't pay for it out of their pocket.