Birth Control Access Campaign
Know the Facts about Birth Control
There’s a large unmet need for contraception worldwide; more than 200 million women globally who want contraceptives but do not have access to them. One third of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended (80 million annually). These pregnancies lead to 20 million unsafe abortions each year with at least 70,000 women dying as a result.
Approximately 90% of deaths from unsafe abortions and 20% of other obstetrical deaths could be avoided by increased access to effective contraception for women worldwide.
In the United States, among the 62 million women of reproductive age, most (70 percent) are sexually active, fertile and are trying to avoid getting pregnant, yet nearly half of all pregnancies each year are unintended.
Domestic family planning is funded through Title X. This year, Congress approved a $7.5 million increase of Title X Family Planning Funding, bringing it to $307.5 million. This is only a 2.5% increase and still leaves the needs of many women unmet. We must recognize that access to contraception is an essential part of preventative health services both here and abroad.
Birth Control Prices Have Skyrocketed at College Health Centers and Hundreds of Clinics Servicing Low Income Women
Here is why:
- For almost 20 years, Medicaid pricing rules allowed pharmaceutical companies to provide college health centers and over 400 clinics serving low income women with birth control at a substantial discount. As a result, many students and low-income women nationwide had access to affordable birth control through these clinics and college health centers.
- In 2005, the rules changed, going into effect on January 1, 2007. The result: birth control prices skyrocketed on campus - some saw prices increase by up to 5 times their original prices! In some cases, prices when for example from $10 a month to over $50 a month. FMF's campus program worked with students all over the country to mobilize and demand a fix.
- In 2009, Congress reverse the 2005 act and passed regulations to permit discounted prices on campuses and affected clinics servicing low-income women once again. The problem: student health centers have still not adjusted their prices and there are still not enough federal dollars going to family planning programs.
What can I do?
Step 1: We are urging campus groups and/or individuals to find out what birth control costs on your campus. If the costs are prohibitive, arrange to meet with your health center and tell them about the changes.
Step 2: Tell us what you learn! Email your campus organizer or contact campusteam@feminist.org
Join us in demanding that policymakers restore affordable birth control for college health centers and clinics serving low-income women!
Step 3: Increase access to emergency contraception
|