Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover birth control?

In this article:

• How the Affordable Care Act impacts birth control coverage
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover birth control?
• How much does birth control cost with BCBS?
• How to check whether your BCBS plan covers birth control
• How to save on birth control

In this article

• How the Affordable Care Act impacts birth control coverage
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover birth control?
• How much does birth control cost with BCBS?
• How to check whether your BCBS plan covers birth control
• How to save on birth control

There are dozens of ways to prevent pregnancy, but some of the most effective methods can cost thousands of dollars without insurance. Whether you’re interested in an intrauterine device (IUD), contraceptive injection, birth control pills, or another product or procedure, there’s a chance your Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plan may cover some or all of the expenses. In fact, federal law requires the majority of health insurance plans to cover certain female-controlled birth control methods at no out-of-pocket cost. 

How the Affordable Care Act impacts birth control coverage

Birth control became more accessible and affordable for people with health insurance after the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. 

“The ACA was a major step forward for reproductive health access,” says Kerry Kraus, a board-certified OB-GYN based in Pennsylvania. “It requires most health insurance plans to cover at least one version of every FDA-approved or cleared contraceptive method for women, without cost-sharing, meaning no copay or deductible.”

Several factors determine whether insurance companies have to cover birth control under the ACA, including the following: 

• The birth control method is considered medically appropriate by the person’s healthcare provider.
• The birth control is provided by an in-network healthcare professional or pharmacy.
• The contraceptive is female-controlled. 

Emergency contraceptives must also be covered without cost-sharing when prescribed by a healthcare provider. In some states, over-the-counter emergency birth control must be covered by health insurance, too. 

There are a few major exceptions to these federal birth control laws:

1. Older health insurance plans don’t have to follow the birth control coverage requirements if they began before the ACA passed and haven’t significantly changed benefits or costs.
2. Employer-sponsored plans can be exempt from covering birth control if contraception goes against the employer’s “sincerely held religious beliefs.” 
3. Medicare Part D plans are also not required to provide birth control, even though about 2% of Medicare beneficiaries (about 1.3 million people) are younger than 45. 
4. The ACA doesn’t require coverage for male birth control, including vasectomies, or for abortion inducers. 

The ACA represents the minimum standard that states must follow, and many have additional coverage requirements. For example, almost half of all U.S. states require insurance companies to cover an extended supply (12 months) of birth control. However, the specific method of birth control and any applicable copays vary by plan.   

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover birth control?

Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield covers birth control according to federal and state laws. 

“Because BCBS operates through regional affiliates, the details can differ by state and BCBS plan,” Dr. Kraus says. “Most plans cover a broad range of hormonal and non-hormonal methods, and both short-acting and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).”

In keeping with federal law, BCBS plans aren’t required to cover birth control in certain circumstances. That said, some plans do cover birth control even if they’re technically not required to do so. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee lists more than 100 covered contraceptives on its 2026 Medicare formulary. 

How much does birth control cost with BCBS?

Prescription birth control typically costs $0 with plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield and other insurance companies, but formularies vary, and some may choose to cover some drugs over others. Still, federal law prohibits cost-sharing for contraceptives when they’re deemed medically appropriate by a healthcare provider and provided in-network. The cost for seeing an out-of-network provider or using an out-of-network pharmacy varies by plan.

How to check whether your BCBS plan covers birth control 

An easy way to check whether your BCBS plan covers birth control is to view the plan’s formulary or drug list. You may have received a printed copy of this document in the mail. If not, you can usually access a copy online by logging into your health insurance portal. 

Each health insurance company organizes its drug lists a little differently. Some are in alphabetical order, in which case you’d need to search for the specific birth control you’re interested in. Other plans group medications by drug class or purpose. Birth control is typically listed under “Contraceptives” or “Endocrine Agents.” 

For additional help verifying birth control coverage and out-of-pocket expenses, call the BCBS customer service department. There are multiple independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association around the country, and each one has a different phone number. It’s usually listed on the back of the insurance card. 

A pharmacist can also check whether your BCBS plan covers the birth control you’ve been prescribed. Call or visit the pharmacy in person, and make sure you have your insurance card handy. It helps to ask about a specific medication or product. 

How to save on birth control

If your BCBS plan doesn’t cover your preferred birth control method, consider using a SingleCare prescription discount card to save money at the pharmacy. SingleCare coupons are free to use and can dramatically lower the cost of prescriptions not covered by insurance.

Here’s how it works:

1. Use the SingleCare app or website to look up the name of the birth control you’ve been prescribed.
2. Enter your ZIP code to see prices at participating pharmacies near you. 
3. Click on the pharmacy you’d like to use. This generates a unique coupon code.
4. Save the coupon in your SingleCare account, or email, text, or print it. 
5. Show the pharmacy staff the coupon during check-out to receive the discounted price.

If cost is a concern, browse typical birth control prices and ask your healthcare provider if the most affordable options are right for you. “There’s no one right birth control method for everyone, so it’s important to have a conversation with a knowledgeable healthcare provider to help you figure out which method is right for you,” Dr. Kraus says.

Here are some of the most affordable SingleCare prices for birth control: 

• Kurvelo: $4 for 28, 0.15 milligram/30 microgram tablets
• Aurovela Fe: $8 for 28, 1 mg/20 mcg tablets
• Sprintec: $9 for 28, 0.25 mg/35 mcg tablets
• Isibloom: $12 for 28, 0.15 mg/30mcg tablets
• Apri: $10 for 28, 0.15 mg/30 mcg tablets

Diaphragms like Caya and cervical caps like FemCap cost more up front but can be used as-needed for at least one year. However, they work best when used in conjunction with spermicide, so factor that into the total cost. Although over-the-counter spermicides exist, Blue Cross Blue Shield (and other insurance companies) may cover them if your healthcare provider writes a prescription. Long-acting birth control methods like IUDs and Nexplanon also cost more initially, but may save money over time. 

Community clinics and Planned Parenthood are options for people without insurance coverage.

Dr. Kraus encourages patients to balance costs with reliability. “Remember that the cost of most birth control methods pales in comparison to the costs of a pregnancy, so this is an area worth investing in.” 

The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Jan.6, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy.