Introduction
Costco Wholesale Corporation (famously referred to as Costco) is an American multinational corporation that operates a wide chain of retail stores across the United States of America. Costco offers its customers a wide range of products at affordable prices. Currently, Costco is operating more than 500 stores in the United States. In this article, we will Costco Plan B, in detail.
What Exactly Is Plan B?
Plan B is a type of contraception that can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected intercourse. It prevents unwanted pregnancies by preventing the release of an egg from the ovaries. The contraceptive can prove to be effective if taken within a period of 24 hours. In addition, it can be consumed by individuals who experience diabetes and high blood pressure.
Costco Plan B
Yes, Costco does provide its customers with Plan B. It can be accessed by members, as well as non-members. This product is available at Costco ever since 2013 through Costco’s specialty, central-fill pharmacies, and mail order. On average, Plan B at Costco costs around $7.99 – $40.
Plan B Cost
The price of Plan B at Costco entirely depends upon the location of the Costco store. Costco stores across different states of the United States may provide Plan B with different prices. But, as already mentioned above, the average price of Plan B at a Costco store is roughly around $7.99 to $40.
On a general rule, however, Plan B can usually cost a customer around $30 to $65. Plan B (the One-Step Emergency brand that Costco sells) is generally priced at $48.
Buying Plan B From Costco
One of the most common questions that customers think of when it comes to buying Plan B from Costco is, do they need a membership to buy Plan B from Costco. The answer to this question is no. Customers don’t need a Costco membership to purchase Plan B from any Costco pharmacy across the US. Most Costco pharmacies across the United States are accessible to all individuals according to state laws.
When it comes to Costco membership, it has its advantages. Customers who possess a Costco membership are provided with reduced prices on prescription medications at every Costco pharmacy across the US. All that they need to do is to show their membership card at any Costco pharmacy and they can ripe the benefits.
But, because customers don’t need to submit a prescription to a Costco pharmacy (to buy Plan B), there are chances that they may not benefit from their Costco membership.
Restrictions
There are certain restrictions when it comes to purchasing drugs/medications from Costco pharmacies. Customers must remember that Costco will only entertain and fill prescriptions that are written by doctors within its network. In the case a customer possesses a prescription from an out-of-network pharmacist or doctor for a medication or drug that is not available in the plan offered by a provider within Costco’s network, Costco will not accept it unless the customer pays for the medication/drug themselves, with no insurance coverage.
Another restriction comes in case a customer’s doctor prescribes them a single brand of medication (for a certain medical condition), but Costco is providing another brand at a lower price through another pharmacy within its network. Under this condition, it is very possible that Costco may ask customers to get prior authorization before they fill the prescription. Otherwise, Costco will fill over-the-counter drugs (even if it isn’t within Costco’s network) without seeing any payment or prior authorization from patients or even their insurers.
This restriction can, however, prove to be an advantage to customers since most pharmacies across the United States are likely to limit a customer’s access to cheaper generic drugs if a drug of a comparatively more expensive brand is available. But, in case no alternate form of the drug is available in the network, or if Costco requires prior authorization anyway, this can prove disastrous for customers or patients that require immediate access to a certain medicine/drug (even in the absence of health insurance).
Conclusion
Plan B is a type of contraception that can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected intercourse. It can be consumed by individuals who experience diabetes and high blood pressure, without worrying about any health scares.
Costco does provide its customers with Plan B. It can be accessed by members, as well as non-members. This product is available at Costco ever since 2013 through Costco’s specialty, central-fill pharmacies, and mail order. On average, Plan B at Costco costs around $7.99 – $40. Customers don’t need a Costco membership to purchase Plan B from any Costco pharmacy across the US. Most Costco pharmacies across the United States are accessible to all individuals according to state laws.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question1) Does Plan B have any health consequences/effects?
Answer) Plan B can be consumed up to five days after engaging in unprotected intercourse, but customers must remember that it won’t shield the egg from the fertilization process. It is entirely hormone-based and can delay ovulation. Thus, it may affect the consumer’s body with symptoms like
-Nausea
-Sore Breasts
-Tiredness/Fatigue
-Heavy head
Consumers shouldn’t worry much about these symptoms since they will disappear after a few hours (or even days, in some cases). If the consumer vomits within two hours of consuming Plan B, they are advised to immediately contact their doctor.
Customers should refrain from consuming Plan B if they suffer from the below-mentioned medical conditions
-Possess allergies to synthetic progesterone, levonorgestrel, or any other ingredients that form the Plan B.
-Experiencing a known or suspected pregnancy
Question2) Are there any alternatives available for Plan B?
Answer) Yes. Apart from Plan B, there are other emergency contraceptives that consumers can use as an alternative to Plan B. One of the most popular alternatives is Ella and Paragard. If consumers decide to take this alternative, they must consume it as soon as possible (after engaging in unprotected intercourse), like Plan B.
