--- title: "Costs & dispensing patterns: oral contraceptives | Sutter Health" description: "Women paid substantial out-of-pocket for OCPs and dispensing limits remained, although these improved over time. Better insurance coverage of contracep" url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/oop-costs-dispensing-for-oral-contraceptives-1055312599" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Costs & dispensing patterns: oral contraceptives # Women’s out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns for oral contraceptive pills between 1996 and 2006. Liang SY, Grossman D, & Phillips KA. _Contraception. 83(6):528-36. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2010.09.013_ 2011-06-01 ## 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. STUDY DESIGN: 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. CONCLUSION: 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. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Women%E2%80%99s+out-of-pocket+expenditures+and+dispensing+p) ![Su-Ying Liang, Ph.D.](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/cRIUee_GK3HEL1Wq8svqoUApvABjlwVVA-KUHVGzuNw/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Su-Ying Liang, Ph.D. Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/su-ying-liang-phd-1049681030) ## Research topics - [Health Disparities](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Disparities%5C%22%22) - [Health Policy](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Policy%5C%22%22) - [Women's Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Women%27s+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [The centralization of robotic surgery in high-volume centers for endometrial cancer patients--a study of 6560 cases in the U.S.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/central-robotic-surery-centers-endometrial-cancer-1055312938) Chan JK, Gardner AB, Taylor K, Blansit K, Thompson CA, Brooks R, Yu X, Kapp DS. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Jul;138(1):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.04.031. Epub 2015 Apr 28. 2015 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Racial disparities in service use among Medicaid beneficiaries after mandatory enrollment in managed care: a difference-in-differences approach.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/race-disparities-medicaid-managed-care-1055312565) Tai-Seale M, Freund D, LoSasso A. Inquiry. 38(1):49-59. 2001 Apr 01 - Publication ### [Genomic testing & therapies for breast cancer in clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/genomic-testing-therapies-for-breast-cancer-1055312617) Haas JS, Phillips KA, Liang SY, Hassett MJ, Keohane C, Elkin EB, Armstrong J, Toscano M. 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BMJ. 363:k4926. doi: 10.1136/bmj.k4926. 2018 Dec 12 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/oop-costs-dispensing-for-oral-contraceptives-1055312599#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Costs & dispensing patterns: oral contraceptives"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/oop-costs-dispensing-for-oral-contraceptives-1055312599#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Women’s out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns for oral contraceptive pills between 1996 and 2006.","headline":"Costs & dispensing patterns: oral contraceptives","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. STUDY DESIGN: 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\u003c.001) and fewer obtained one pack per purchase (76% in 1996-1998 vs. 35% in 1999-2006, p\u003c.001). Age and insurance were associated with out-of-pocket expenditures and dispensing patterns. CONCLUSION: 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.","description":"Women paid substantial out-of-pocket for OCPs and dispensing limits remained, although these improved over time. 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