"Plan B" - Why the hell is it so expensive?

Question

Well the condom broke, so me and my s. o. took a trip to CVS only to find it's $50 or more for a single pill!

You'd think emergency contraceptive would be less expensive considering it's an EMERGENCY... what do you guys think?

Wonderer89 · Accepted Answer

Emergency is always going to equal more expensive, because it’s expected that people make their best effort and it only be used in emergencies. It costs millions to develop medications and pharmaceutical companies recoup that cost over many, many years. More commonly used medications are often subsidised by the government or insurance, because making them more affordable will prevent things like plan b (which isn’t healthy when taken regularly) and having to pay welfare costs for people having children they can’t afford.

Condoms aren’t a single good pregnancy preventative when having regular sex. With typical use there is an 18% fail rate, so they should always be used with another form of protection even if it’s only cycling, spermicide or pulling out if a pregnancy is absolutely not an option. Birth control can be prescribed by any GP, there are cheap/free medical centres all over the place

grimtigress · Accepted Answer

fuck, it seems as if to scare you to never have sex again because if you do you're a harlot of the devil and must be doing it with anybody and everybody. had to deal with it myself a few times, and it really is a bitch. i'd imagine because it's like birth control in a sense, and that some women are for damn sure desperate enough for it when their plane fails and they make a human mistake. my birth control was $130 monthly without insurance. there's definitely some issues with that and don't follow the "controversy" of it very much

ciitruskiwi · Accepted Answer

I always figured it's not a pill that you can take all the time so maybe that's why it's so expensive. I feel like there would be people taking advantage of it if it were cheaper by having unprotected sex all the time then just relying on plan b

buttercupupup · Accepted Answer

The pharmaceutical industry in the US is so money hungry that they raise prices as high as they can justify. That's why it costs so much.

Red_Arrow · Accepted Answer

If you want to compare costs based on it being an emergency, how much do you think a trip to the emergency room costs?

The pills are so expensive because they have the patent or whatever on it and can charge a fortune. Ask the guys with allergies who need the epipen about that. It used to be reasonable and a rich guy bought the company and now the average price is listed as almost $400. And that is a really big emergency.

SmoMan71 · Accepted Answer

That’s why it is so expensive. In an emergency people will pay more for it. do you honestly think the pharmaceutical corporations care about anything but money?

jennifer_bloom · Answer

They are taking advantage of your desperation but don't worry. Medical patents are only valid for 5 years so in another 2-3 years they will be dirt cheap.

EpicDweeb · Answer

Because t's meant to discourage having unprotected sex. Emergencies are costly. You need to not be an idiot so they give you the incentive to be prepared ahead of time. If the 50 bucks isn't worth it, be careful about protection or just don't have sex.

summiter · Answer

It is expensive but children are more expensive. Maybe consider going on the pill as a backup to regular condom use.

Wraithguy · Answer

If $50 is too much for you wait till you have that kid. Go get yourself some birth control.

Billy96 · Answer

Really damm that is expensive af I don't know since im still a V.  Pull out method I don't know.

Ghost_Woof · Answer

Because it's for emergencies only. And it can make you sterile (unable to have kids) so you are not supposed to take it more than once.

theventrsomeone · Answer

I think if you don't take it, anything else that happens is way more expensive

xoKendrick · Answer

Why are you guys all saying "better than having a baby.."  She's buying the plan b because she DOESN'T want a baby..

jacquesvol · Answer

Companies selling it know that the person who wants it needs it badly. That permits them to charge a high price.

RohitLakra · Answer

I think it is very expensive as well. It is about someone's life and these kind of emergency medicines should be cheap for an average person. It is a basic human need now days.

xHelp · Answer

I think Big Pharma likes money and I also think you should use a better condom.

Waffles731 · Answer

Its better than the alternative

outside_Toronto · Answer

Because they know you think you need it

TheUglyMonk · Answer

Emergency = Need. Need = Got to get now no matter what. Got to get now no matter what = €€€€€. It's called Business, if a product is needed when in demand it'll be expensive especially when there's not much competition.