Key takeaways:
Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate / ethinyl estradiol / ferrous fumarate) is an oral contraceptive that contains a low dose of estrogen and includes an iron supplement.
Without insurance, a pack of 28 tablets of Lo Loestrin Fe costs around $219.20 on average. The exact price you’ll pay depends on factors including your insurance status, location, and pharmacy. There is no generic version.
There are ways to save on Lo Loestrin Fe. GoodRx can help you access Lo Loestrin Fe at an exclusive cash price of $99. A manufacturer savings card is also available.
Save on related medications
More than 10 million women in the U.S. take birth control pills, a popular form of contraception that has been in use for over 50 years. Oral contraceptives contain synthetic (lab-made) hormones: either a combination of estrogen and progestin, or progestin alone. Some, such as Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate / ethinyl estradiol / ferrous fumarate), also contain iron supplements for the days you’d menstruate, which may help reduce the risk of anemia or iron deficiency.
Some women are sensitive to the side effects from estrogen and do better on a medication with a lower estrogen dose. Lo Loestrin Fe is among the lowest, with a daily dose of 10 mcg of estrogen. In many states, pharmacists can prescribe birth control, so you don’t need to see another healthcare professional to get a prescription.
Lo Loestrin Fe basics
Lo Loestrin Fe is a combination birth control pill containing a low dose of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (norethindrone acetate), along with an iron supplement (ferrous fumarate). The 28-tablet blister packet contains:
24 blue tablets with 1 mg of norethindrone acetate and 10 mcg of ethinyl estradiol
2 white tablets with 10 mcg of ethinyl estradiol
2 brown hormone-free “reminder” tablets that contain 75 mg of ferrous fumarate
It's very important to take the tablets every day at the same time. Like other birth control pills, Lo Loestrin Fe should not be taken if you are over 35 years old and smoke, because of an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or blood clots.
The chart below provides basic information about Lo Loestrin Fe.
Lo Loestrin Fe basics
Brand name | Lo Loestrin Fe |
Active ingredients | • Norethindrone acetate • Ethinyl estradiol • Ferrous fumarate |
How supplied | 1 packet of 28 tablets: 26 tablets with hormones and 2 hormone-free reminder tablets |
FDA-approved use | Pregnancy prevention |
How it works | By preventing ovulation (the release of an egg) |
Benefits | • Has a lower dose of estrogen compared with many other birth control pills • Contains an iron supplement, which can protect against anemia • May shorten or lighten periods |
• Nausea or vomiting • Headache • Changes to menstruation • Breakthrough bleeding or spotting • Bloating or water retention • Breast tenderness • Acne changes (more or less than usual) • Abdominal pain or cramping • Feelings of anxiety or depression |
Is Lo Loestrin Fe covered by insurance?
Many commercial insurance plans cover Lo Loestrin Fe. About 58% of Lo Loestrin Fe prescriptions have no out-of-pocket cost, according to the manufacturer. Few Medicare Part D plans cover Lo Loestrin Fe.
If you have insurance, check your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary to see if Lo Loestrin Fe is covered.
How insurance covers Lo Loestrin Fe
Lo Loestrin Fe is covered for most people with insurance besides Medicare. Most health insurance plans covering this medication don’t require prior authorization or step therapy, but prior authorization will be required for about 1 in 5 people with Medicaid and about 1 in 13 people with Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, plans. It’s also important to note that certain religious employers have the option not to cover birth control.
The following chart shows your likelihood of coverage, as well as the potential need for prior authorization and step therapy, with:
Commercial insurance, not including plans purchased on an ACA national or state marketplace
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans
Insurance coverage for Lo Loestrin Fe
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for this medication | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including ACA plans) | 82.6% | 5% | 2.9% |
ACA plans | 85.8% | 7.4% | 3.1% |
Medicare | 11.7% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid | 99.6% | 21.7% | 1.3% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of September 26, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Savings with insurance
The manufacturer of Lo Loestrin Fe offers a savings program for people with commercial insurance. If your insurance covers the medication, you could pay as little as $25 for your copay on a 1-month or 3-month fill.
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
Here are a few options if your insurance does not cover Lo Loestrin Fe:
If your commercial insurance plan doesn’t cover the medication, you can pay as little as $30 for a 1-month fill or as little as $70 for a 3-month fill through the manufacturer savings program.
Talk to your prescriber about alternatives.
Ask for an exception from your prescription medication plan. Keep in mind that you may be required to do step therapy or get a prior authorization to be covered.
File an appeal with your plan.
Use a GoodRx coupon for potential savings.
Consider changing your prescription medication coverage during your next open enrollment period.
Lo Loestrin Fe vs. other birth control medications: Various birth control pills have different combinations of hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Birth control pill effectiveness: Lo Loestrin Fe, like other oral contraceptives, is about 91% effective with typical use.
Lo Loestrin Fe side effects: The hormones in birth control pills sometimes cause side effects, such as changes to your menstrual cycle, but some may go away with time.
How much does Lo Loestrin Fe cost without insurance?
If you don’t have health insurance, what you’ll pay for Lo Loestrin Fe will depend on the following factors:
Fill amount (3-month supply versus 1-month supply)
Geographic location
Specific pharmacy
Without insurance, the average retail price for 1 package of Lo Loestrin Fe is $219.20.
How to afford Lo Loestrin Fe without insurance
Here are five ways to save on Lo Loestrin Fe without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay a lower price for your Lo Loestrin Fe prescription.
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com or install the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “Lo Loestrin Fe” 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 and print it out, or save your coupon on the GoodRx app.
Show the coupon at the pharmacy when you pick up your medication. Or present the coupon to pharmacy staff early on in the filling process, such as when you first receive your prescription, to help prevent delays at the pickup counter.
Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase a 28-day supply of Lo Loestrin Fe at an exclusive cash price of $99.
2. Request a 3-month supply
Ask your prescriber to write you a prescription for a 3-month supply of Lo Loestrin Fe, instead of a 1-month supply, to compare costs. Filling a 3-month supply may lower your overall costs and reduce your trips to the pharmacy.
If your insurance covers Lo Loestrin Fe, you can also ask about potential discounts for using your plan’s mail-order pharmacy.
3. Compare prices at various pharmacies
GoodRx can easily compare costs at different pharmacies to help you find the best price for Lo Loestrin Fe in your area.
4. Ask your prescriber about alternatives
If you are concerned about the cost of Lo Loestrin Fe, talk to your prescriber. There may be another birth control option that is effective for your situation and fits your budget.
5. Use tax-advantaged healthcare expense funds
If you have a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), paying for your Lo Loestrin Fe with these funds reduces your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings.
The bottom line
How much you’ll pay for Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate / ethinyl estradiol / ferrous fumarate) will depend on factors including the quantity, your location and pharmacy, and whether you have insurance. A 28-tablet packet of Lo Loestrin Fe costs an average of $219.20 without insurance.
Although there is no generic form of this medication, there are ways to save on your Lo Loestrin Fe prescription. You can use a GoodRx coupon or manufacturer savings card, fill a 3-month supply instead of a 1-month supply, or ask your prescriber about similar medications that may meet your needs and better fit your budget.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
National prescription coverage data for each medication was obtained from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT), reflecting health insurance coverage as of September 2024. The percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication was calculated by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the drug within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel. Similarly, the percentage of enrollees in plans with prior authorization was determined by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that require prior authorization for the medication within each channel. The percentage of enrollees in plans with step therapy was calculated as the proportion of enrollees in plans that impose step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel. These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into the health insurance coverage landscape for each drug, taking into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total population of enrollees covered by insurance across various channels, including ACA, commercial excluding ACA plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state and managed Medicaid).
References
Allergan USA, Inc. (2022). Lo Loestrin® Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) [package insert].
Fischer, J. A. J., et al. (2021). Iron-containing oral contraceptives and their effect on hemoglobin and biomarkers of iron status: A narrative review. Nutrients.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Birth control benefits.
Lo Loestrin Fe. (n.d.). Birth control pill side effects.
Lo Loestrin Fe. (n.d.). Lo Loestrin® Fe savings program.
Lo Loestrin Fe. (n.d.). Why Not Prescribe Her Lo Loestrin® Fe Today?
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.