Birth Control Question

I'm a little confused about this issue.  From what I have read on other threads, it makes it sound anywhere from impossible to get birth control unless you have insurance and maybe not then, to you can just walk in and get it free.  Could somebody clarify!  I have to use a particular type of BC.  I spoke with my doctor here, and she assured me that the British probably have something similar.  She gave me a prescription to take with me and recommended I take the packaging with me to show them so they can give me something similar.  Since my insurance company will not allow me to buy more than one month at a time, and my insurance is up as soon as I leave my company, I will basically have one month, that is it.  It doesn't matter if I have to pay full price until I have insurance.  That would be cheaper than a baby!  But is that possible?  Please help!  Thanks.

Birth control is free here.  You'll need to register with a GP and show them the packaging from your old birth control.  They'll give you the closest equivalent.

I used www.smartwomanrx.com for birth control in the US -- was cheaper and you can buy more than one month at a time.

If you don't care about the cost, you can pay full price in the US for a couple of month's worth.  If it is a generic (which it doesn't sound like it is) then it shouldn't be that expensive.  Even the brand name one I used to take only cost about $60 a month.  Definitely cheaper than a baby.

Can't help you on the UK end though.

sorry if this is too personal- but it a birth control PILL that you're on?  from my experience not all pills are in the UK.  you'll probably be able to get someting similiar but not identical.

if i were you, i'd probably get two or three months supply b/f coming to the UK.  it's possible but it may be a rush to register with a surgery, go see them, get the rx.  doable but when you're in the process of moving etc it will be one less thing to worry about.  when i lived in the US, and was a student, i went to planned parenthood.  they gave 3 months at a time relatively cheepish at the time. 

What will your visa status be?  If you are just coming to visit, or for less than six months, then it you won't be entitled to NHS treatment and will have to get insurance.

Otherwise, birth control will be free.  It may be an idea to go to a Family Planning Clinic in the first instance than a GP.  In my experience, they are more likely to discuss all your birth control options and as well as knowing what is comparable with the pill you are using now they will also be in a position to discuss whether we have something over here which is even better.

An FPC is likely to give you three months of the pill initially, and then when you come back, if everything is oaky, they will give you six months.

Vicky

Great, thanks so much!  I will have a fiance visa which will change to a spousal visa, so I should be able to get it free.  Yay!  But I will take a couple months with me so I don't stress trying to get the other taken care of.

When I was in the UK, I was able to get my dr to call in the refills, then my best friend picked up two months supply at a time then mailed them to me.

Best bet is to bring a couple months worth with you, that'll give tou time to get registered with a GP or go to a clinic and not be having to rush the minute you arrive.

Thanks, SlicesMissus!  I was sort of thinking the same thing.  I figure (worse come to worse) I can transfer my prescription to Walgreens and have my parents in Idaho pick it up and ship some if needed.  But I think what you suggest will work the best!

I've been getting my b/c from the Sexual Health Clinic here in Nottingham, I'm here on a visitors visa and have no insurance, but that doesn't matter, they will handle sexual health for anyone, don't even want to see id.  i got 3 months the first time, and then went back and got 6 months.  100% free.

pengi

technically, i don't think you're entitled to free NHS treatment on an NHS visa (regardless of the type of clinic, surgery, etc).  with that said, i'm not surprised they didn't ask you for information/payment/etc.

Well, I'm actually going to be there on an EEA Family Permit as my soon-to-be-hubby is actually a German Citizen so it's a little different for me.  Hopefully it won't be a problem for the BC Pill. 

if that's the case- you shouldn't have a problem registering with a GP and getting your BCP sorted asap.  good luck with the move!

It's not easy but it's not impossible.  It took me THREE visits to the local family planning clinic to be able to get the patch.  The opening hours the NHS site had for them were not the ones they actually went by and they kept changing them.  However, once I actually got to see the doctor, it was easy.  Turns out I could have just gone to my GP who is a family planning doctor as well 

June

Turns out I could have just gone to my GP who is a family planning doctor as well 

It's too bad you didn't find that out sooner, but some GPs cannot provide certain kinds of contraceptives, such as coils, Implanon or diaphram fitting. 

In our city, all such patients are referred to the Family Planning Clinic.

They should all be able to prescribe the patch, tho.