How to Get Low-Cost or Free Birth Control
Key takeaways:
FDA-approved birth control methods are considered preventive care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Most ACA marketplace plans and commercial insurance plans cover birth control with no cost-sharing.
Telehealth providers like GoodRx Care offer birth control prescriptions online and some can mail products directly to you.
Planned Parenthood, federally qualified health centers, and other in-person clinics provide birth control along with other reproductive and sexual healthcare services at low costs.
Affordable and reliable birth control plays an important role in sexual and reproductive health. Whether you have health insurance or not, there are ways to get free or low-cost birth control.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) classifies access to birth control as a preventive care benefit. The law requires most commercial insurance plans, including ACA marketplace plans, to cover preventive care without cost-sharing. This means you do not have to pay anything toward your deductible and are not charged a copayment or coinsurance when you fill a prescription for FDA-approved birth control.
The most popular forms of birth control are hormonal methods in the form of the pill, a patch, or an intrauterine device (IUD). Typical costs for prescription birth control can range anywhere from $0 to $2,000 annually, depending on the type of contraceptive and whether you have insurance. For methods that require a medical procedure, like an IUD, your out-of-pocket costs could be higher.
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The costs for over-the-counter contraceptive methods, such as condoms, also vary.
What is hormonal birth control?
Hormonal birth control works to prevent pregnancy by influencing the level of certain hormones in the body. It can also help relieve period pain and acne.
Hormonal birth control is safe for most women but may need to be avoided if you smoke, are breastfeeding, or have a history of certain health conditions, such as blood clots or breast cancer. Hormonal birth control methods come in the following forms:
What is non-hormonal birth control?
Non-hormonal birth control includes any contraceptive that does not involve adding hormones to the body. The most common type of non-hormonal, barrier method of birth control is the male condom. Other types of barrier methods, which are designed for female use, include the birth control sponge and the cervical cap — both of which are often used with sperm-killing chemicals called spermicides. There is also a female condom.
These non-hormonal options come without any risk of side effects from medication, but may sometimes cause mild irritation or allergic reactions. To be effective, most have to be used every time sex occurs.
There are also the surgical sterilization options of tubal ligation for females and vasectomies for males. No surgery is risk-free, so you should discuss risks and benefits with your healthcare provider if you are considering one of these procedures.
Non-hormonal birth control methods include the following:
Female condoms (also called internal condoms)
Copper IUD (Paragard)
Diaphragm and spermicide
Vaginal sponge and spermicide
Tubal ligation (also called female sterilization or “getting your tubes tied”)
Currently, the only available over-the-counter contraceptives are condoms, the sponge, cervical caps, and spermicides.
Does insurance cover birth control?
As mentioned, the ACA requires most health insurance plans to cover birth control with no out-of-pocket costs.
The types of birth control and related care covered under the law are:
Barrier birth control
Hormonal birth control
IUDs
Emergency contraception, like Plan B (also called the “morning-after pill”)
Tubal ligation
Patient counseling
You can check your formulary to see which brands of birth control are covered under your insurance plan.
Also, keep in mind that the ACA exempts plans sponsored by certain religious employers from covering birth control.
How can I get free birth control?
Now that you know more about your birth control options, let’s discuss four ways that you can get access to free or low-cost contraception.
1. Health insurance plan
If you’re insured, there’s a very good chance your birth control will be free or available at a low cost. This is true for plans through:
ACA marketplace insurance
Employer-based health insurance
Medicaid
Your covered costs include healthcare provider visits, sexual health counseling, family planning services, and prescription medications.
2. Telehealth services
There are lots of online health providers that can help you get a birth control prescription sent to the pharmacy of your choice or even mailed directly to you. This can be a great option for avoiding the time and travel involved in an in-person office visit.
Most online services require you to answer a few questions about your health history. And you may also have a brief telehealth consultation. While many don’t require that you have insurance, they will typically charge a small fee (usually $15 or less) for the consultation or prescription. Some services also mail your medication to you.
Online resources will only be able to prescribe methods you can administer yourself. Those include:
The pill
Patch
Shot
Vaginal ring
GoodRx Care offers birth control services starting at $19 per appointment with Gold membership. You don’t need insurance. You receive a virtual visit and prescription to fill at a pharmacy near you.
3. In-person clinics
If you prefer to go to a clinic in person, there are plenty of options that provide free or low-cost care and access to birth control:
Planned Parenthood: This organization provides free or low-cost birth control on a sliding scale, based on income and insurance status. Find a Planned Parenthood health center near you here.
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs): These federally funded clinics are located in medically underserved areas and provide primary and preventive care, including for birth control, on a sliding scale. There are nearly 14,000 FQHCs in the U.S. You can find a center near you using this locator tool.
Health departments: Your local health department may host family planning clinics or primary care services that offer birth control for free or at a low cost.
Safety-net hospitals and clinics: Safety-net hospitals and clinics are comprehensive health centers that serve all people, including those who don’t have insurance. Search this state-by-state list to find a safety-net hospital in your area. Or use this locator tool to find a free or charitable clinic near you.
Campus clinics: If you are enrolled in a college or university, you may be able to access free or low-cost birth control at a campus health center.
4. Sexual health programs
If you are seeking condoms, there are sexual health and other community programs that offer free condoms in every state. Some of those programs offer free male and female condoms. Common locations for free condoms include health departments, campus health centers, and family planning clinics.
The bottom line
Whether you’re insured or not, there are resources to help you get birth control at a low price or for free. If you have insurance, there’s a good chance you can access birth control without out-of-pocket costs, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you don’t have insurance, you still have a lot of options, including visiting a Planned Parenthood clinic or federally qualified health center (FQHC).
Whether you have insurance or not, you can also access a telehealth provider through GoodRx Care, where a virtual visit with prescription is $59 or $19 with a GoodRx Gold membership.
Why trust our experts?
References
Guttmacher Institute. (2021). Contraceptive use in the United States by demographics.
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2022). Health center program award recipients.
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2022). Health center program: Impact and growth.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Federally qualified health center (FQHC).
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Preventative care benefits for women.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Vaginal sponge and spermicides.
Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). Birth control.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Birth control.
