Vaden Health Center began stocking up on oral contraceptives when Congress announced an act that would cause costs to skyrocket. But now, the low-cost pill packs stockpiled at Vaden are on the verge of expiring.

Before the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which went into effect in 2007, pharmaceutical companies received government subsidies to reduce the price of oral contraceptives at college health centers and low-income health clinics. These clinics no longer receive the pills at substantial discounts, resulting in a cost increase for patients.

College campuses and over 400 health clinics that provide health care for underprivileged women have been affected. Some colleges, like Bowdoin College in Maine, have stopped stocking contraceptives altogether. Others are stocking only the morning after pill.

Robyn Tepper, director of Medical Services at Vaden, said that while costs have been creeping up over the years, Vaden has no plans to stop providing contraceptives.

“That won’t ever be an issue here,” she said. “It’s just not something we would do. I don’t ever have to worry that a student can’t get what they need.”

Previously, students paid at most about $25 per month for birth control pills purchased at Vaden. Patients with Stanford’s Cardinal Care insurance plan paid $10 per month for generic pills and $25 for brand name medications. Those without Cardinal Care could still buy generic pills at Vaden for $10 per month out of pocket.

Once the low-cost pill packs run out all students purchasing pills at Vaden must pay the full price for oral contraceptives. Some drugs have doubled in price. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has quintupled in price — from $10 to $50 per month. Those with outside insurance plans may get reimbursed, however.

While some students are already paying the full price of the medications, depending on brand, others may be unaware of the changes. One Stanford student, who wished to remain anonymous due to privacy issues, was shocked by the impending dramatic increase in price. After finding out that her monthly supply of medication may no longer cost $10, she is now considering switching the brand of her birth control.

“I’m going to use the two packs they gave me, and then check out my insurance policy,” she said, referring to the stockpiled clinic packs she received from Vaden. “If I can’t get subsidized by insurance, then I’ll have to switch birth control.”

Staff at the student-run Sexual Health Peer Resource Center (SHPRC) said the organization has been unaffected by the legislation. Its funds are already limited, and while the SHPRC provides contraceptive barrier methods, it can neither afford to provide oral contraceptives nor is it licensed to prescribe them. At the moment, the SHPRC has no plan of increasing its stock in condoms or spermicide to counteract the availability of other contraceptives.

At Vaden, however, Tepper said the staff is trying to do everything it can.

“We’re willing to help out students to figure out what would be most economical for them,” she said.