How Much Is Phexxi Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Phexxi (lactic acid / citric acid / potassium bitartrate) is a type of hormone-free birth control. This vaginal gel can be applied at will before sex.
Phexxi is a nonhormonal type of contraception. It may be a good option for people who can’t tolerate hormonal methods, such as birth control pills.
Insurers are required to cover contraceptives, but they aren’t obligated to cover every birth control offering. Without insurance, one box of Phexxi containing 12 applicators can cost an average of $441.52. You could pay as little as $343.15 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies. You might also get Phexxi at a lower cost through the manufacturer’s savings program or from certain clinics, such as a Planned Parenthood health center.
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Table of contents
If you are sexually active but don’t want to get pregnant, you likely have many birth control options. But hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills and some intrauterine devices can have wide-ranging side effects, including inflammation and mood changes. They also require long-term use. Phexxi (lactic acid / citric acid / potassium bitartrate) is a nonhormonal option that you use shortly before you plan to have sex.
Phexxi is a gel that you insert into the vagina with a prefilled tampon-like applicator up to an hour before you have sex. This medication works by forming a thick barrier and keeping an acidic pH level in the vagina. This makes it more difficult for sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
The cost of Phexxi depends on several factors, including the pharmacy where the prescription is filled. If your health insurance doesn’t cover Phexxi, a GoodRx coupon could lower your cost at certain pharmacies. Through a manufacturer savings program, an eligible consumer with commercial insurance may be able to pay $0 for your first fill and as little as $25 for refills.
Phexxi basics
Phexxi is 86% effective at pregnancy prevention with typical use and 93% effective with perfect use. Unlike spermicides, which kill sperm, Phexxi works by immobilizing sperm so they can’t move freely. But it doesn’t contain spermicides or hormones. You need to insert a dose of Phexxi before each act of intercourse, even if they happen close together. You can combine Phexxi with condoms and other birth control methods except the birth control vaginal ring.
The chart below provides a summary of basic information about Phexxi.
Phexxi basics
| Brand name | Phexxi |
| Form | Vaginal gel |
| Ingredients | Each 5 g applicator contains:
|
| FDA-approved uses | Pregnancy prevention |
| Benefits |
|
| Possible side effects | Among women:
Among women’s sexual partners:
|
Is Phexxi covered by insurance?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans to cover contraceptives, but insurers don’t have a mandate to cover every kind of birth control available. Despite that, many health insurance plans cover Phexxi. Nearly all Medicaid and commercial plans purchased through an ACA marketplace cover this birth control option.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether brand-name Phexxi is covered. If not, contact your insurer and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or a pharmacist.
How insurance covers Phexxi
The following charts show the likelihood of coverage for Phexxi, based on the type of insurance plan.
Most health insurance plans don’t require enrollees to get prior authorization or do step therapy. But prior authorization is required for about 1 in 3 people covered by a Medicaid plan.
Nonhormonal birth control: If hormonal contraception isn’t a good fit for you, prescription or over-the-counter nonhormonal options may work better.
How effective is Phexxi? This nonhormonal gel is more likely to prevent pregnancy than some birth control options and less likely than others. See how Phexxi compares with other contraceptives.
A guide to contraception: Here’s everything you need to know about preventing an unplanned pregnancy, from treatment options to discounts on medications.
Insurance coverage for Phexxi (1 box of 12 applicators)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Phexxi, 1 box of 12 applicators | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial plans (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 69.9% | 14.3% | 0.02% |
90.7% | 9.3% | 0.4% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 7.3% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.4% | 31.6% | 2.8% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover Phexxi, you still have options:
Ask your prescriber about switching to a less-costly birth control option that meets your needs, which may be the lower-cost generic of another medication.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company so that Phexxi will be covered by your plan. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.
Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides the coverage you need.
How much does Phexxi cost without insurance?
Without insurance, what you pay for Phexxi depends on several factors, including your:
Pharmacy
Location
Fill quantity
The following table shows what you might pay for Phexxi as a cash-pay consumer.
Phexxi costs
Phexxi form and dose | Average cash price |
1 box of 12 applicators |
Ways to save on Phexxi
Each box of Phexxi comes with 12 prefilled applicators. Since you must use a new one each time you have sexual intercourse, some people will need prescription fills more often than others. As a result, Phexxi may be a stretch for your budget — particularly if you have an active sex life. Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost. Here are five options.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
You can use a free GoodRx coupon to lower the price of your Phexxi prescription at your pharmacy. Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device to get a coupon.
On the app or website, type “Phexxi” in the search field.
Choose the desired quantity. Input your ZIP code or address, or select “Use my current location” so the results show local pharmacies.
Choose how to receive your coupon (printed, emailed, or texted).
Take your coupon to the pharmacy. Sharing the coupon with pharmacy staff early in the filling process can help avoid delays at the pickup counter. Without insurance, the average price for one box of Phexxi can be $441.52, and you could pay as low as $343.15 with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
GoodRx lets you easily compare Phexxi costs at different pharmacies in your area. You might find it’s worth traveling a bit farther to get a discounted price.
3. Manufacturer savings programs
Qualified consumers with commercial health insurance can access a patient savings program from the manufacturer. If you’re eligible, you’ll pay $0 for your first prescription and as little as $25 for refills.
If you don’t have a prescription for Phexxi, you may be able to connect with a healthcare professional through the manufacturer’s website to access a prescription and have your medication mailed from a pharmacy partner.
If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to get a free or low-cost prescription through a Planned Parenthood health center near you.
4. Ask your prescriber about alternatives
Phexxi isn’t the only birth control option available. Ask your prescriber about lower-cost options that adequately treat your condition.
5. Use tax-advantaged healthcare funds
Consider using a flexible spending account, health savings account, or health reimbursement arrangement to cover your medication. These types of accounts have multiple tax benefits and can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings. Review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.
The bottom line
Phexxi (lactic acid / citric acid / potassium bitartrate) is a prescription birth control that comes in the form of a vaginal gel. It’s free of hormones and spermicides and should be inserted shortly before intercourse.
The cost of Phexxi depends on factors like the pharmacy you use and your insurance coverage. If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover this medication, the average price of Phexxi is $441.52, and you could pay as little as $343.15 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies.
You may be able to pay less if you have commercial health insurance and qualify for the manufacturer’s savings program. You also may be able to access affordable Phexxi at a Planned Parenthood health center.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of April 2025.
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
Andrews, M. (2021). Contraception is free to women, except when it's not. National Public Radio.
Evofem Biosciences. (n.d.). A different kind of birth control.
Evofem Biosciences. (n.d.). Dosing & prescribing.
Evofem Biosciences. (n.d.). Phexxi patient savings program.
Evofem Biosciences. (2023). Phexxi- lactic acid, l-, citric acid monohydrate, and potassium bitartrate gel [package insert].
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Birth control benefits. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). Phexxi.
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