Is it easy to get birth control pills in Germany?

Question

I will be in Berlin, Germany in a few days for three months time. I am currently taking Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, but my insurance will not cover my three month prescription until a week or two after I'm already gone. I was going to have my boyfriend send it to me, but would it just be easier to purchase it there? Would it be easy to obtain and would it be inexpensive?

Answer 1

No, you have to go get a prescription from an OB/GYN in Germany and for doing so you need health insurance. So you better bring your own stuff over here.

Answer 2

There is another reason to bring your own stuff: Just because the pill you are taking is available in your home country doesn't mean it is available in Germany. I doubt you'll want to switch from one product to another for a period of 3 months.

And the Baby Penguin is right about needing to see a German Ob/Gyn before you can get birth control pills in Germany. But since it is illegal to enter Germany without sufficient health insurance the question is just whether your travel health insurance will cover a non-emergency visit to a German ob/gyn. Most travel health insurances don't. In this case you'd have to pay for the visit to the ob/gyn, which is very expensive. You'll also have to pay for the prescription here in Germany, which is bound to be between 30 and 120 EUR.

Another thing: your boyfriend is not allowed to send you your pills to you. It is forbidden by German law, since only pharmacies are allowed to hand out meds to patients in Germany. If he tries to send the meds to you chances are high the stuff will be confiscated by German customs.

The only legal way for you to import meds into Germany is to take them with you in your luggage along with a prescription from your doctor at home. So bring a 3-month supply.

EDIT: Did a quick search. "Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo" is no known brand name in Germany. Bring your own meds.

Answer 3

t_maia2000 is right.

This pill is not known in Germany. And if you want the pill you must get a prescription from a gyn doc which also means to pay for to see the doc plus for the medication at a pharmacy.

So you better get your pills from the US and explain your doc over there why you need a supply for 3 months.

By the way, over here you usually get a prescription for 3 months, and even for 6 months - if the doc knows you quite well and is sure about that you're coming over for another check within 6 months.

Answer 4

Contact your insurance company and explain the situation.  I had a similar problem with one of my prescriptions, and the insurance company waived the deadline from me.  You migth want to offer "proof", tho-- an airline ticket, etc., to show you're really going to be overseas.

A less ideal but workable option is to find out how much the BCP cost without insurance.  Some of them are relatively cheap, and coughing up an extra $30-$40 for a refill can be worth it.

Finally, you might try contacting your doctor/ OB/GYN who prescribed the BCPs in the first place.  Sometimes they have samples of meds from sales reps, and thy might be willing to give you one if they have it.

I would first try contacting your insurance company, tho....