Plan B is available over-the-counter, without a prescription, to women (and men) 18 years of age and older, but it costs between $30 and $60, depending on the pharmacy. While this amount may not sound so expensive to some, to low-income women it can mean choosing between necessities or the drug. (Buy food, pay the heating bill, or buy Plan B.)
Most state Medicaid programs still require women to obtain a prescription in order for EC to be covered. Requiring prescriptions can add terrible time delays to getting Plan B that could render it less effective, or worse…completely ineffective.
Here are the states where EC can be obtained w/o a prescription for Medicaid recipients. Some pharmacists claim the Medicaid paperwork is too onerous or unclear for Plan B. What that really means is that they try to get the client/customer to pay full price because the pharmacist makes more that way. If you can, walk out and go to another pharmacy. Take your business elsewhere. Most will provide Plan B with Medicaid coverage!
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Washington
Is your state on the list?
For more information, view: http://www.nirhealth.org/sections/ourprograms/documents/ECMedicaidMemoFormatted.pdf
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