Which contraception you choose is quite a personal choice. Some swear by an IUD, others prefer the injection or condom. Perhaps your choice also depends on the costs associated with contraceptives. Do you actually know what your contraception costs and what reimbursement you can receive for it?
Preventing pregnancy costs money. It’s that simple. There are many ‘free’ contraceptives. Consider natural contraception such as the cycle calendar or temperature measurements. The advantage is that you don’t add anything to your body, but a major disadvantage is that these methods are not really waterproof in practice. To save yourself the risk of an unwanted pregnancy, it is best to switch to reliable contraceptives. But they are not free…
Saving on contraception is not always a good idea. Choosing a contraceptive that suits you and that is reliable is of course very important. The price should not be leading in this. But of course it is extra nice if it can be done a little cheaper.
Which contraceptives are reimbursed?
It’s a lot easier (and cheaper) if you’re under 21. Then contraception is still covered by your health insurance. This concerns, for example, the pill, the diaphragm, Implanon or the IUD. Condoms are not reimbursed by basic insurance. It is good to take into account: you do pay your deductible and in some cases there is also an additional personal contribution.
Bas Knopperts, health insurance expert at Independer: “If you are older than 21, many contraceptives are no longer reimbursed by basic insurance. You can take out additional insurance for this. The additional packages for contraception differ per health insurer. Not everywhere you will be reimbursed for the same form of contraception and the amount of the reimbursement may also differ. It is therefore wise to inform yourself well in advance and to compare different health insurance policies.”
Other savings tips for contraceptives
Every now and then politicians are called upon to make contraception free for everyone. Because let’s be honest: it is often women who pay for the costs of contraception. These initiatives have not yet been heard. Yet everyone agrees that contraceptives should be made as accessible as possible. Also for people with a smaller wallet.
In addition to good supplementary insurance, you can also certainly do more research into the costs of the different contraceptives. For example, the contraceptive pill is not always expensive. There are different brands.
A more expensive pill does not always mean that it works better. In some cases you can also order the pill online. That sounds efficient and cheap, because you don’t have to go to the pharmacy. That is not always the case.
Check carefully whether it is actually cheaper and only do business with a reliable party. If you do order the pill from the pharmacy, immediately take a dose for a longer period of time. It is almost always cheaper to order the pill for a longer period. This way you avoid handling costs.
Whatever you choose, always coordinate your choice of contraceptive with your doctor. And hey, it’s not all that bad. The next time you sigh and wonder why the pill is so expensive, think about our neighbors. In Belgium and Germany, the contraceptive pill costs two to five times as much.
