How Much Is Depo-Provera Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone) is a brand-name, progestin-only birth control shot that prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation and thickening cervical mucus.
The Depo-Provera shot is given either in the bottom or upper arm once every 3 months (13 weeks). You must consistently receive the prescription-only shot to prevent pregnancy.
Some insurance plans cover Depo-Provera. Without insurance, 1 syringe of Depo-Provera may cost as little as $61.57 at certain pharmacies with a GoodRx coupon. If you choose a generic version, you may be able to pay even less.
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Table of contents
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone) is a brand-name, progestin-only birth control shot that prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation) and thickening cervical mucus. Depo-Provera contains the progestin medroxyprogesterone, a lab-made hormone that mimics natural progesterone in the body.
The prescription-only injection must be administered by a healthcare professional. It’s injected into the muscle of your bottom or your upper arm once every 3 months (13 weeks). You must consistently receive the shot every 3 months to prevent pregnancy.
Unless your prescriber says otherwise, you shouldn’t receive Depo-Provera injections for longer than 2 years. The longer you take the injections, the greater the chance of calcium loss in your bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.
Depo-Provera basics
The chart below provides a summary of basic information about Depo-Provera.
Depo-Provera basics
Brand name | Depo-Provera |
Active ingredient | medroxyprogesterone |
Dosage form | 150 mg/mL prefilled syringes or vials |
How it’s given | Injected into the muscle by a healthcare professional every 3 months (13 weeks) |
FDA-approved use | Preventing pregnancy |
How it works | Stops the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens cervical mucus |
Benefits | • Effective at preventing pregnancy |
Possible side effects | • Menstrual changes |
Is Depo-Provera covered by insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most insurance plans must cover at least one birth control option from each FDA-approved category with no cost-sharing. (No cost-sharing means you don’t have to pay coinsurance or a copay for the medication, even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible.) However, not all insurance plans are subject to these guidelines, and some don’t cover certain generic or brand-name birth control options.
While some plans may only cover generic medroxyprogesterone, Depo-Provera is covered for most people who have commercial insurance or Medicaid. However, this brand-name medication is covered for less than 25% of people with an ACA plan and very few people with a Medicare Part D plan.
If you have insurance, check your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary to determine whether Depo-Provera is covered.
How insurance covers Depo-Provera
Most health insurance plans that cover Depo-Provera don’t require enrollees to get a prior authorization or do step therapy. Though, a prior authorization is required for about 50% of people with Medicaid plans.
The following chart shows the percentage of people who have coverage and who face restrictions (i.e., prior authorizations and step therapy) for a variety of insurance plans.
Getting birth control without an office visit: There are several ways to access effective birth control without going in to see a healthcare professional. Read about the options in your area.
Depo-Provera is an alternative to the pill. If you don’t want to take a daily oral contraceptive, the Depo-Provera birth control injection, which is administered every 13 weeks, may be an option.
Affording birth control without insurance: If you don’t have insurance, Depo-Provera is among the most affordable birth control options.
Insurance coverage for Depo-Provera
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for this medication | Enrollees required to get a prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through the ACA marketplace) | 87.0% | 8.5% | 5.5% |
21.1% | 11.7% | 0% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 4.9% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.5% | 51.1% | 0.7% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of October 17, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
Here are a few options to try if your insurance does not cover Depo-Provera:
Talk to your prescriber about alternatives, including the generic version and other long-lasting birth control options, like patches or an IUD.
Ask for a formulary exception from your prescription medication plan. Keep in mind you may be required to do step therapy or get a prior authorization to be covered.
If you request a formulary exception and it’s denied, file an appeal with your plan.
Use a GoodRx coupon for potential savings.
Check if you qualify for a patient assistance program to help pay for medication.
Consider changing your prescription medication coverage during your next open enrollment period.
How much does Depo-Provera cost without insurance?
If you don’t have health insurance, what you’ll pay for Depo-Provera will depend on factors like your geographic location and the specific pharmacy or clinic you use. Your costs may be lower if you receive the shot at a safety-net clinic such as Planned Parenthood, because these sites participate in the federal Title X Family Planning Program, which allows them to provide low-cost or free contraceptives.
How to afford Depo-Provera without insurance
Here are four ways to save on Depo-Provera without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay a lower price for your Depo-Provera prescription. Without insurance, 1 brand-name Depo-Provera syringe may cost as little as $61.57 at certain pharmacies with a GoodRx coupon.
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com or install the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “Depo-Provera” in the search field
Choose the correct quantity and location.
Click or tap on “Search prices” to find prices at pharmacies near you.
Choose to receive your coupon via text or email, or print it out.
Show the coupon at the pharmacy when you pick up your medication. Or present the coupon to your pharmacy staff early on in the filling process, such as when you first receive your prescription, to help prevent delays at the pick-up counter.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
GoodRx can help you easily compare costs at different pharmacies so that you can find the best Depo-Provera price in your area.
3. Ask your prescriber about alternatives
If you are concerned about the cost of brand-name Depo-Provera, talk to your prescriber. As mentioned, the generic form of the medication typically costs less than the brand-name version. And there may be other long-lasting birth control options that fit your budget.
4. Use your tax-advantaged healthcare funds
If you have a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), using those funds to purchase your medication can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings.
The bottom line
How much you’ll pay for Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone) will depend on whether you have insurance, your geographic location, and the pharmacy or clinic you use to access the medication.
There are ways to save on the cost of Depo-Provera, such as opting for the generic version, finding a safety-net clinic that offers the medication at a lower cost, or using a GoodRx coupon. Without insurance, 1 brand-name Depo-Provera syringe may cost as little as $61.57 with a GoodRx coupon.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflect health insurance coverage as of October 2024.
We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel.
We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.
Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel.
These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Congressional Research Service. (2023). Title X Family Planning Program.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Birth control benefits.
KFF. (2024). DMPA contraceptive injection: Use and coverage.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company. (2024). Depo-Provera - medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, suspension [package insert].
Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). How much does the birth control shot cost?
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