CVS is officially cutting prices and eliminating the ‘menstrual tax’ on pads and tampons

Major pharmacy CVS Health is officially lowering the price of menstrual products in 12 states—this includes CVS Health and Live Better tampons, menstrual pads, cups and liners.

Menstrual products are already pink tax-free in 24 states. Consumers still pay tax on those products in Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Last week, the pharmacy chain said it would reduce the cost of CVS brand menstrual products by 25% on or before Thursday, October 13. 

“Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” CVS Health said. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup and toys.”

The changes are part of CVS’ “HERe, Healther Happens Together” initiative, which will include expanded women’s health services in its Minute Clinics.

Related: The 17 best period panties to save your pants, sheets and peace of mind

CVS, which operates 9,900 retail outlets in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,  is also working with other organizations to eliminate menstrual taxes altogether, according to the company. They also confirm that they’ve evaluated “thousands of products” to make sure “women’s” and “men’s” products like razors and shaving cream are priced equally.

The “pink tax” refers to sales tax added to items marketed for women that are priced higher than the exact same products for men. The “menstrual tax” refers to sales tax added to period care products—which are a necessity and part of basic health and hygiene for menstruating individuals. The tax has been heavily criticized nationwide for decades.

Pads, tampons and liners have increased in price during the last few years, according to CNN Business. The research found tampon prices increased 12.2% at retail stores for the year ending October 2. Liners increased 11.6%.

One in four women struggled to purchase period supplies within the past year due to lack of income, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies.

Related: Scotland is officially the first country in the world to make pads and tampons free

Period poverty affects women of color the most, in addition to immigrants. A 2021 study found one in 10 college women lack access to menstrual hygiene products.

“No student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the basic necessities they require to thrive,” their website states.

“Period poverty is a common yet hidden and stigmatized public health issue in the United States and globally,” according to Jhumka Gupta, an associate professor at George Mason University. “It can reduce women’s participation in school and the workplace.”

Over the summer, Scotland passed the Period Products Act, becoming the first country in the world to make sure menstrual products are made free to citizens.