While generic emergency contraceptives currently cost $8.88 at the MU Pharmacy, this price is not related to recent student protests by the Coalition for Bodily Autonomy. 

The Coalition for Bodily Autonomy, a student protest group at MU, has been advocating for free, university-subsidized emergency contraception since October 2022. On April 5, the coalition announced on its Instagram that it had “pressured the University into offering Plan B emergency contraception for $8.88.”

However, according to Eric Maze, manager of public relations for MU Health Care, the price of emergency contraception at the MU Pharmacy locations was not impacted by the coalition’ advocacy. Additionally, there is a difference between brand-name Plan B and generic contraception. Plan B currently costs $50, while the generic version is $8.88.

“The price of generic emergency contraception at Mizzou Pharmacy locations is determined solely by the cost we pay a supplier when we need to re-order,” Maze wrote. 

Maze said that prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, and though the generic emergency contraceptive currently costs $8.88, it is not correlated to past protests by the coalition, including at the Feb. 9 Board of Curators meeting. He added that the generic medication has been offered since at least 2018, though the price has fluctuated since then. Maze said that $8.88 has been the “predominant price point” for generic Plan B at the Mizzou Pharmacy located inside the University Physicians Medical Building since August 2021. 

In the comments of its Instagram post, the coalition cited a resolution by the Graduate Professional Council from 2019, which mentioned a price increase in contraceptives at that time. The resolution did not specify whether the prices were for name brand Plan B or the generic version. According to the Columbia Missourian, the Missouri Students Association passed resolution 18-8-5 on April 16, 2019 to encourage MU to provide free emergency contraception to all students. The Coalition for Bodily Autonomy’s original goal was also for contraception to be free to students. While the resolution passed, emergency contraception is not subsidized by the university.

While the UM System owns MU healthcare and pharmacy locations, “There was no request or guidance from anyone in the UM System to adjust the price of generic Plan B at Mizzou Pharmacy locations,” Maze wrote. 

At the MU Pharmacy locations, students can currently buy brand name Plan B for approximately $50, a generic alternative for $50 or a third brand for $8.88. The CVS pharmacy closest to campus, at 5410 Clark Lane, offers brand name Plan B for the same price: $49.99. At the CVS, there are also off-brand alternatives ranging from $29.99 to $69.99.

Maze emphasized that the price may change in the future, but only due to the cost set by the supplier. 

For more information on MU’s sexual and reproductive health resources, check out past reporting from The Maneater.

Edited by Mercy Austin | maustin@themaneater.com