DeKALB | A pill a day could keep a pregnancy away, but with a rise in the costs of birth control methods, students may no longer be able to afford it.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 has put a financial barrier on pharmaceutical companies, indirectly causing them to stop offering discounted incentives to college health facilities.

“It’s a small change that has had a big effect on manufacturers,” said Mary Hoban, director of the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment. “There’s a huge financial dis-incentive for the manufacturer to continue to offer colleges discounted prices.”

Beverly Espe, director of Health Services at NIU, said pharmaceutical companies, especially those marketing brand-name birth control methods, offered discounts to college health centers in an effort to market their products to young women.

Hoban said the prices of brand-name pills have now increased $30-$50 for one 30-day supply.

Since the DRA went into effect, the prices of birth control methods have caused many universities to switch to generics. Both Espe and Hoban agree there is no difference between generics and brand name pills. However, newer birth control methods, such as the Nuva Ring or the Ortho Evra patch, do not have generic counterparts.

“We’ve gone from what was $11 a month for a 30-day supply [of brand name pills] to $18 a month for a generic,” Espe said. “If our prices are higher, we have to pass it on to college students.”

Audrey Taylor, Freshman physical therapy major, had to switch to a cheaper birth control pill after her Nuva Ring prescription increased from $18 a month to $42.

Hoban believes situations like Taylor’s are cause for concern.

“What worries me is that if students have to switch methods, it may not be as good of a personal fit for that person, which can alter the effectiveness,” Hoban said. “The end result could be an increase in unintended pregnancies, but I hope it won’t get that far.”

The ACHA has worked since the act went into effect to reverse the price increase and place college health on the exemption list, but Hoban explained it is not an easy task.

“Other issues are going on that are competing for attention,” she said. “It is very difficult to have legislation correct it. [They] seem to acknowledge it as a regrettable error.”

In addition to lobbying against the legislation, the ACHA is also working with the Center for Medicaid Services since they have the authority to adjust the regulation.

“Neither one is easy to do,” said Hoban.

The CMS will release its final decision June 30.

In the meantime, students are forced to cope with the price increases.

Taylor said that if prices continue to increase, she will not be able to afford birth control.

“It’s not worth it to me,” Taylor said. “I just wouldn’t take it.”

Espe is worried about the negative effects that the price increase could have on students.

“There is a risk,” Espe said. “Some concern that students are going to go off the pill if they can’t afford it. We hope that they will be careful.”