title: Women's out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns for oral contraceptive pills between 1996 and 2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns for oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), factors associated with these outcomes and whether they change over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cohort using 1996-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women spent $16 out-of-pocket per pack, on average (median=$10.41). Of the OCP users, 38% paid $15 or more per pack and 44% obtained one pack per purchase. Over time, fewer women paid $15 or more (52% in 1996-1998 vs. 34% in 1999-2006, p<.001) and fewer obtained one pack per purchase (76% in 1996-1998 vs. 35% in 1999-2006, p<.001). Age and insurance were associated with out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women paid a substantial amount out-of-pocket for OCPs and dispensing limits remained, although these improved over time. Better insurance coverage of contraception and policies targeting younger women and the uninsured in particular would help overcome barriers to OCP access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSF Center for Translational and Policy Research in Personalized Medicine (TRANSPERS Center), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. liangs@pharmacy.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Su-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral