Birth Control Prices With and Without Insurance
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Birth control can cost anywhere from $0 to over $6,000, depending on the method you choose and your insurance.
More than 65% of women in the United States currently use birth control, and nearly all women will use it at some point in their lives. Health insurance companies are typically required to pay for birth control, as long as it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can get birth control without insurance, and some programs offer low-cost or free birth control for people who don't have insurance plans.
How much is birth control?
Without insurance, birth control pills can cost up to $50 per month, and an intrauterine device (IUD) can cost up to $1,300.
If you have health insurance, the cost is usually $0 for FDA-approved birth control methods. Birth control pills, one of the most common forms of contraception, can cost up to $50 per month if you don't have insurance.
Average birth control cost
Birth control method | Payment frequency* | Average cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Male condom | Every time you have sex | $0-$2 per condom |
| Female condom | Every time you have sex | $0-$3 per condom |
| Vaginal sponge | Every time you have sex | $0-$15 per sponge |
| Emergency birth control pill | As needed | $0-50 |
| Birth control pill | Monthly | $0-$50 |
*Cost and payment frequency data is from Planned Parenthood and Mayo Clinic.
Your birth control cost will depend on the method you choose and if you have insurance. Costs also vary depending on where you are in the country and how your doctor sets prices.
Find Cheap Health Insurance in Your Area
Does health insurance cover birth control?
Health insurance companies are required to cover FDA-approved birth control for women. Most health insurance plans have to follow Affordable Care Act (ACA) guidelines. Preventive care is one of the required benefits, and birth control is considered preventive care for women.
This means that most types of birth control are covered by group and private health insurance plans.
- Birth control pills
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- Arm implant
- Hormonal shots
- Vaginal ring
- Skin patch
- Emergency contraception
- Female sterilization surgery
- Cervical cap
- Diaphragm
- Female condoms
- Spermicide
- Vaginal sponge
Health insurance companies are also required to pay for birth control counseling and education.
To have coverage, you need a prescription. Most birth control methods, like the pill and the patch, require a prescription. Some, like IUDs and implants, require a procedure that has to be done in a doctor's office. Other types, like female condoms and spermicide, are available without a prescription. Your insurance won't pay for these if you don't have a prescription.
When insurance doesn't cover birth control
Most health insurance companies and plans have to cover birth control for women. But there are still a few circumstances where your birth control might not be covered.
- Your employer has a religious exemption: Businesses with legitimate religious exemptions do not have to cover birth control in their group health insurance plans.
- You go to an out-of-network doctor: Many health insurance plans require you to use a network of doctors to have coverage. If you go to an out-of-network doctor, your birth control might not be covered.
- You choose a brand-name drug: A study by Kaiser Family Foundation found that 10% of women in 2018 still paid out-of-pocket costs for birth control pills. Brand-name pills that had generic alternatives were more likely to have an out-of-pocket cost. The women had health insurance through an employer with more than 50 employees.
- You're a man: Birth control is only considered preventive for women. Insurance companies aren't required to cover male birth control, like male condoms and vasectomies.
- Your health insurance plan is from before 2010: So-called "grandfathered" plans are plans that were in effect before the Affordable Care Act was passed and have not changed. Most health insurance plans change each year, so there aren't many grandfathered plans anymore.
Cost of birth control without insurance
Without insurance, you'll pay the full cost for birth control.
The price will depend on what kind of birth control you choose and the costs in your area.
To get birth control pills, for example, you have to get a prescription from a doctor. Without insurance, you pay for the appointment as well as the full cost of the pills themselves. Birth control that requires an office procedure, like an IUD or the arm implant, will cost more than less invasive methods.
Find Cheap Health Insurance in Your Area
How to get birth control without insurance
You can get birth control without insurance, but you'll pay the full price.
You do need a prescription for many types of birth control, so you'll have to visit a doctor's office or clinic first. You'll either pay up front for the visit and any procedures you have while you're there, or you'll get a bill in the mail. If you are prescribed a kind of birth control like the pill or patch, you'll then go to a pharmacy to get and pay for your medication.
If you don't want to or can't visit a local doctor's office, there are ways to get birth control discreetly online. Your local family planning or public health clinic might offer telehealth services, where you can meet with a doctor virtually and get a prescription. Online birth control providers like Hers, Lemonaid, Nurx and Wisp can also help you get birth control if you don't have insurance.
Birth control options that require a doctor to perform a procedure, like IUDs, implants and surgery, won't be available without a physical appointment. You can still get these options without insurance, but they can be expensive.
Women without insurance will soon have another option for birth control.
The FDA approved Opill, the first birth control pill that you can get without a prescription, in July 2023.
Opill is the first and currently only over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States. It will be available in stores and online starting in early 2024. The price of Opill birth control hasn't been released. Since you don't need a prescription, you won't have to pay for an office visit to get the medication. Planned Parenthood plans to have a consumer assistance program to help some people get Opill for free, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.
How to save on birth control without insurance
You'll probably pay for your birth control if you don't have insurance, but there are ways to lower your costs.
Choose a generic drug: Generic drugs cost less than name-brand drugs. If you're choosing a type of birth control that you get from a pharmacy, you may be able to try a generic version first to see if it works for you. You'll still need a prescription, but the cost for the medication will be lower than it would be for a name-brand drug.
Review your options: IUDs and implants cost more than shorter-term birth control methods, but they also last far longer. IUDs can cost up to $1,300, but because they last longer, they might end up being cheaper than birth control pills or other options that you buy monthly or four times a year.
Compare prices at different pharmacies: Drug prices aren't consistent across pharmacies. If you have multiple pharmacies in your area, you can call to check how much your prescription birth control method costs. That way, you know which location has the lowest prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much does birth control cost?
Birth control prices vary depending on the method you choose and if you have insurance. Condoms cost just a few dollars each, while implants and IUDs can cost more than $1,000 without insurance. In most cases, health insurance will cover the cost of birth control. There may still be charges for name-brand drugs, as well as other fees associated with procedures and surgery.
Can I get free birth control online?
You might be able to get free birth control online using telehealth appointments. Try scheduling a telehealth appointment with your doctor or a women's care clinic, and if you have insurance, your birth control could be free. You could use an online service like Hers, Lemonaid, Nurx and Wisp. Not all online providers accept insurance. This means you would have to pay for your medication, but the cost might be lower than what you would pay at a pharmacy.
How much does permanent birth control cost?
Female sterilization surgery, sometimes called "getting your tubes tied," can cost more than $6,000 depending on your insurance coverage. There are two kinds of surgery: tubal ligation and bilateral salpingectomy. They prevent eggs from meeting sperm by either blocking, cutting or removing the fallopian tubes. Women who do not want children or are done having children might choose to have surgery as a way to prevent pregnancy for the rest of their lives.
Does Medicaid cover birth control?
Medicaid usually covers birth control pills for women with low incomes, but it depends on the state, and there might be requirements to meet besides income. You might have to try a generic version of a birth control pill to see if it works for you before a name-brand drug will be covered, for example. Most states also cover IUDs and the arm implant, as well as at least one kind of emergency contraception.
Sources
The average cost of birth control comes from Planned Parenthood. The frequency of payments is from Planned Parenthood and Mayo Clinic. Other sources for this article include:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Guttmacher Institute
- HealthCare.gov
- Kaiser Family Foundation