Birth control and the USPS: What’s happening?

You’ve probably heard by now that the US Postal Service (USPS) is experiencing significant delivery delays. 

What is happening and why

The USPS, a vital service in this country, has suffered considerably during the pandemic. Not only has the USPS received insufficient coronavirus relief funding, it’s new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy has implemented numerous changes that have slowed delivery times and limited delivery capacity. 

The USPS is in a state of serious financial crisis, which has been heightened by the coronavirus pandemic. Its revenue relies on mail and package deliveries, however volume has sharply declined over the last decade. So, when DeJoy took over in June, he implemented “cost-cutting measures” that targeted worker’s overtime and transportation costs. 

These changes have led to slower mail delivery for Americans across the country. And they have been viewed as an attempt to suppress voter participation during this year’s election, a year which record numbers of people are expected to vote by mail. The Postmaster General recently stated that these changes will be put on pause; however, individuals are still experiencing delivery delays.

Impact on Simple Health

This is especially important to Simple Health because we ship our medications almost exclusively through the USPS, and it’s crucial for many other pharmacy services as well. Last year alone, the USPS shipped 1.2 billion prescriptions across America. ⁣So, whether people rely on prescription delivery because they live in a rural community or because their work schedule doesn’t allow them to get to the pharmacy in time, it has become a key resource that many businesses rely upon.

At Simple Health, we’re seeing more and more patients reporting delays. What typically would take three to five days to deliver, now can take an upward of seven to ten days.

Rest assured, we do allow ample time for package delays to ensure that our patients don’t have a lapse in birth control coverage. Additionally, we are also now offering six-month refills to patients who are paying out-of-pocket. 

What patients should do

Since we send refills far in advance of when birth control packs should be finished, most patients should get their packages before they are out—even with delays. But if you are a patient who is concerned about receiving your birth control on time, go to your account to change the date on your next refill, or to increase the number of birth control packs per order, reach out to us and we'll take care of it. 

We’re working hard to ensure that you receive your birth control orders on time, despite delays. 

If you want to join us in helping the USPS there are a few things you can do

• Text ‘USPS’ to 50409 to have a letter generated to send to your representatives.⁣
• If you can, buy some stamps and send a letter to someone you love (or even a stranger). ⁣