Birth Control--what a budget buster!!

[hockeyprincess]

I'm thinking it will be cheaper to have another kid than pay this price for birth control!

Seriously though... I use NuvaRing, love it, and had been able to get it for $35 per month from our local pharmacy. I went to refill this past Saturday and it was $61!! She said there was a price increase and "did I still want it?" well I guess I have to pay that, I said... cause I need it! So I called around to other pharmacies in the area and it's anywhere between $75-100+ per month!

I know oral bc is much cheaper but it makes me vomit in the first week of taking it, at least 2-3 days. (sorry, I know it's WAY TMI) I have tried different ones, BTW, lower hormones, etc. So I switched to NuvaRing and haven't had that issue, since now I'm bypassing the GI tract.

Any other ideas? I will not pay $60 or more per month for BC! I know I can download 4 $15 coupons from their website, but that only helps me for 4 months....does NuvaRing come in mail order? (I doubt it, since it has to be refrigerated... but doesn't hurt to ask) Any ideas are welcome.

We're young still, so sterilization is in my mind, but WAY back there, not 100% positive we're done adding to our family yet.

 

[jedijill]

I'm thinking it will be cheaper to have another kid than pay this price for birth control!

Seriously though... I use NuvaRing, love it, and had been able to get it for $35 per month from our local pharmacy. I went to refill this past Saturday and it was $61!! She said there was a price increase and "did I still want it?" well I guess I have to pay that, I said... cause I need it! So I called around to other pharmacies in the area and it's anywhere between $75-100+ per month!

I know oral bc is much cheaper but it makes me vomit in the first week of taking it, at least 2-3 days. (sorry, I know it's WAY TMI) I have tried different ones, BTW, lower hormones, etc. So I switched to NuvaRing and haven't had that issue, since now I'm bypassing the GI tract.

Any other ideas? I will not pay $60 or more per month for BC! I know I can download 4 $15 coupons from their website, but that only helps me for 4 months....does NuvaRing come in mail order? (I doubt it, since it has to be refrigerated... but doesn't hurt to ask) Any ideas are welcome.

We're young still, so sterilization is in my mind, but WAY back there, not 100% positive we're done adding to our family yet.

I have the Mirena IUC which I've been quite happy with. Good for 5 years but can be removed at anytime with almost immediate fertility. My insurance paid for it so I'm not sure how much it cost.

Jill in CO

 

[kamik86]

I know oral bc is much cheaper

Wow I didn't realize how much so... mine costs me $8.10 per month. Is it just because nuvaring doesn't have a generic?

 

[Green Tea]

OP, are you sure your insurance doesn't cover BC?

 

[sksjasams]

Depo Provera shots may be an option for you.

Our insurance considered them a vaccination so there was no cost at all.

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

I also have Mirena and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I only had to pay my office copay for it ($25).

However, my first one did not last five years. I only got 4 years out of it (started having major cramps and horrible break thru bleeding). I was able to go ahead and have it replaced ahead of schedule because my husband's employer had changed insurance companies. Not sure how it would have been handled if the same insurance company was paying for the second one. It probably would have been denied because it was too soon to change it.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I love my Mirena IUD ~ I'm on my 2nd one, had the 1st for 5 years. They're not cheap if insurance doesn't cover it.

 

[momof1princess]

i was going to suggest the mirena iud, since you can't take bc pills. i take loestrin and it's a $15 per month co-pay. it jumped $5 a few months ago, but i'm grateful i don't have to pay full price, which is almost $30.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My B/C pills are $4 a month with insurance.

But, they don't cover Depo-Provera and wanted me to pay $300 a shot. OMG!



Can you maybe look into that rod-type thing that goes in your arm, if the IUD doesn't work out?

 

[hockeyprincess]

Mirena could be an option... I may have to look into that. How are your periods though, any side effects to mention? (for those that have it/have used it)

My insurance did not cover this per se.... it would cover it but at their price it was still $57+ so the cash price at the pharmacy was cheaper, just bypassing the insurance all together. Even now, that's not much of a difference ($61 vs $57) or maybe the insurance price went up as well, and their cash price is STILL cheaper than insurance price? Not sure on that one, since she caught me by surprise in the drive thru window.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Mirena could be an option... I may have to look into that. How are your periods though, any side effects to mention? (for those that have it/have used it)

I have very light spotting every 3 months or so ~ it's great! I have no complaints at all, I have 3 SILs who've had IUDs ~ once it was removed they got pregnant within a month or 2!

 

[hockeyprincess]

Also.. kamik86, I think you're correct, no generic for nuvaring yet. These dang pharmacutical companies though, I'm tired of them ripping us off! Meds are SO expensive anymore it's crazy... I'm glad we're relatively healthy and don't have any monthly scripts besides this one for now.

Besides, I think it's a bit of a hook, line, sinker thing.... they started out cheap, get everyone to like their product, then HIKE the price. Crazy. I just don't feel like lining their pockets KWIM?

 

[kamik86]

As for the insurance when I was on my parents insurance if they had been using my Moms BC wouldn't have been covered. She worked for a church and since they are against BC they refuse to cover it.

 

[elaine and the boys]

You could always "refrain" during ovulation. It's the cheapest method of bc!

 

[jedijill]

I have very light spotting every 3 months or so ~ it's great! I have no complaints at all, I have 3 SILs who've had IUDs ~ once it was removed they got pregnant within a month or 2!

I have nothing after the first 3 months! I love it.

Jill in CO

 

[hockeyprincess]

You could always "refrain" during ovulation. It's the cheapest method of bc!

At this price, that's what we're gonna HAVE to do!!!!

 

[hockeyprincess]

I have nothing after the first 3 months! I love it.

Jill in CO

Mirena's looking better and better!! That would save on "feminine supplies" as well, if you know what I mean! (They are getting expensive too!)

 

[3boymthr]

Do you have mail order coverage with your insurance? If yes, they probably will cover it. I get DS' pills mail order that you wouldn't think would be available (they are a controlled substance I have to show two forms of picture ID if I get them at CVS ). They send them Fed-ex signature required. A small pain I know, but worth the savings (I get 3 months of pills for 1 copay instead of 3 and considering DS' pills are $45 in copay that's a huge savings.)

 

[vickiemariko]

I also have the Mirena IUD and it is great! I am on my second one, had the first one for 5 years, no problems. I get light bleeding and cramps for a couple days about once every 3-4 months. I believe that the price for the Mirena is around $700. At least that is what I was quoted a few years ago. So if that is the case, then it averages about $11.67 a month, over five years. I really like not having to worry about a pill, patch, ring, etc.
The only dislike I have with the IUD is that insertion has been a problem for me. I have inconsistent periods even without the Mirena so I could never schedule my appointment when I was "on", which made insertion very uncomfortable.....wait no....painful!! I have had one child too, which is supposed to make it easier to insert, but I think I may just be an oddball. But despite the couple minutes of pain, it is totally worth it.

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

Mirena could be an option... I may have to look into that. How are your periods though, any side effects to mention? (for those that have it/have used it)

I don't bleed very often at all. I have spotting maybe 1 or 2 days every 3-4 months(only when I go to the restroom-I don't have to wear a pad). I do still, however, have all the other symptoms of a monthly period for about 3 days every couple of months (moodiness, tender breasts, cramping, bloating, want to eat everything in sight and tiredness). I'll gladly deal with these symptoms to not have to worry about birth control or a regular monthly period.