EC Survey Presentation
Graduate Council May-19 Minutes
Plan B Again Available at the SCC
The Student Government Executive Slate is pleased to announce that, through our work with the Student Care Center and the Vice-President/Dean of Students Office, a solution has been reached regarding the distribution of Plan B, better known as the morning after pill.
If you can recall, the Student Care Center stopped distributing the pill due to cost reasons after it became available over-the-counter. This meant Students had to go to their local pharmacy to get the drug.
On the one hand this was an improvement, the Pill could be now be obtained on any day whereas previously Students needed to go into the SCC on a week day. Nevetheless, SG felt that students should still be able to obtain the Pill from the SCC and so we met last quarter with Dr. Bordenave, director of the SCC, and Celia Bergman, the Associate Dean of Students for Student Health & Administration Affairs (see Blog post).
We’ve just received word from Ms. Bergman and Dr. Bordenave that the SCC will once again be distributing Plan B but with a $20 co-pay from students. This will last through the end of the fiscal year, June 30th, after which the SCC may be able to further reduce the co-pay amount. This solution should provide for students who feel more comfortable seeking medication from the SCC or who cannot afford the higher cost of Plan B from local pharmacies (which is around $40).
Importantly, although emergency contraception may still work within 72 hours, the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is. Students should not wait for the SCC to open on Monday to get a prescription if they need Plan B on the weekend.
Written by Scott
wohoo, more unprotected sex
Comment by psi u boy — April 7, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
Psi U Boy is actually correct. Decreased price of a good (in this case unprotected sex through the subsidy of EC) leads to an increase in the quantity demanded.
Comment by Re: psi u boy — April 7, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
But condoms have always been free…
Comment by Scott — April 7, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I certainly hope you’re not an econ major…to say that decreased price of Plan B will have a direct increase on the amount of unprotected sex is quite shortsighted. Unwanted pregnancy is not the only consequence of unprotected sex, and Plan B doesn’t, for example, prevent the spread of various unpleasant diseases. U of C students know that.
Oversimplified judgments like the one above will get you nowhere.
Comment by Re: psi u boy — April 8, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Poster #4, here is a little economics lesson for you:
Unless the demand for unprotected sex is perfectly inelastic, a decrease in the price of unprotected sex will cause an increase in the quantity demanded. Since the price has decreased by $20 if someone uses Plan B, the quantity of unprotected sex will increase. There is no way that unprotected sex is perfectly inelastic since there are substitutes (vaginal sex with a condom, sodomy, etc.).
Elasticty = % change in quantity demanded / % change in the price
Price of unprotected sex w/ Plan B before subsidy= % chance of pregnancy x cost of pregnancy + % chance of STD x cost of STD + $40
Price of unprotected sex w/ Plan B after subsidy = % chance of pregnancy x cost of pregnancy + % chance of STD x cost of STD + $20
The % change in price = (Price before subsidy - Price after subsidy) / (Price before subsidy)
where % chance of pregnancy is the % chance of getting pregnant after taking Plan B
Schooled.
Comment by Re: poster #4 — April 8, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
I think the real question #5 is whether your proof can work as a pick up line at psi u…
Comment by Scott — April 8, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Informed students know that Plan B is no excuse to have unprotected sex. It is important for students with active sex lives to have access to this resource incase their primary method of birth control fails. Plan B is a high dose of hormones; the equivalent of taking ~12 birth control pills, so its side effects include cramps, irregular periods, and a chance of vomiting– none of this is worth having unprotected sex. To say that the lowered price of Plan B will cause more students to have unprotected sex compromises our understanding of the morning after pill’s very important function: as a back-up plan.
Comment by Rachel — April 9, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Does anyone know if a guy could get Plan B at the Student Care Center. (ie. to pick up for a female partner)
Comment by Kelly — April 9, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
I would suggest calling the SCC Nurse during business hours at (773) 702-1915.
There is a 24 hour version of this in the form of the SCC Physician-on-Call (773) 702-6840.
My guess is yes, a boy can pick it up considering its now over the counter. But you should probably ask the nurse beforehand.
Comment by Scott — April 9, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
According to the SCC website, “Emergency Contraception [Plan B] is no longer available at the SCC.” What happened? First, it’s not June 30th yet. Second, what happened to further reducing the co-pay amount?
This is mildly ridiculous.
Comment by Marie — June 17, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
There was a higher than anticipated demand with the new co-pay. Plan B has been moved to the DCAM’s pharmacy. Matt will post more details soon, I’m not sure what’s been announced or not announced yet.
Comment by Scott — June 17, 2008 @ 10:37 pm