FAQs about birth control

How much does birth control usually cost?

The cost of birth control depends on the method used and insurance coverage. With insurance, you may be able to get birth control without any copay if you choose a preferred method from your prescription drug formulary. Without insurance, birth control ranges from about $50 per month for birth control pills to about $1,800 for a five-year intrauterine device.

What type of birth control can I get for free?

If you have insurance, you may be able to get various types of FDA-approved birth control, including the pill, vaginal rings, diaphragms, sponges, IUDs, and emergency contraception, without paying copays or coinsurance, but you’ll still be responsible for monthly premiums. If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to get free or low-cost birth control from Medicaid or other government-funded programs or health clinics, but specific options vary by location and are based on income.

Is birth control covered 100% by insurance?

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance to cover FDA-approved versions of the pill, vaginal rings, diaphragms, sponges, IUDs, shots, sterilization, and emergency contraception without copays or coinsurance, but they need to be prescribed by an in-network provider. 

What is the cheapest prescription birth control without insurance?

The cheapest type of birth control without insurance is typically generic oral contraceptives. For example, brand-name Tri-Sprintec costs about $64 for 1, 28-tablet disp pack, but its generic version (norgestim-eth estrad triphasic) costs $53. With a SingleCare coupon, you could pay just $6 for a packet of generic Tri-Sprintec.

What types of birth control can you get over the counter?

Condoms, spermicides, sponges, the Opill (a progesterone-only pill), and emergency contraceptives (e.g., Plan B One-Step) are available over the counter without a prescription. 

What type of birth control is most effective?

Abstinence is the most effective type of birth control. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) are the most effective form of contraception after abstinence. They are placed in the arm or in the uterus and are not subject to the patient forgetting to take them or vomiting.  Implants, such as Nexplanon (one match-stick-sized implant placed in the upper arm that’s effective for up to three years) and IUDs (a small “T” device that a healthcare provider places in the uterus and is effective for up to 10 years) are 99% effective. In comparison, the patch is 94% effective, and the pill is 91% effective. 

Can birth control protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

No. Abstinence is the only way to prevent STIs, although the male condom offers more than 90% protection against HIV and Hepatitis B.