How Much Is Slynd Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Slynd (drospirenone) is a progestin-only oral contraceptive (birth control pill). It is approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy.
Slynd can cost around $242.07 for a 28-day supply without insurance. Your exact cost may vary depending on your pharmacy, location, and prescribed quantity.
Using a GoodRx coupon or a manufacturer's savings card can lower your out-of-pocket costs. You can also ask your prescriber for lower-cost alternatives.
Table of contents
Slynd (drospirenone) is an FDA-approved, brand-name, progestin-only oral contraceptive taken to prevent pregnancy. Unlike most hormonal contraception, Slynd does not contain estrogen, which makes it ideal for women who:
Are age 35 or older and smoke
Have a history of strokes or heart conditions
Have a history of blood clots
Breastfeed
Slynd is taken once a day by mouth. Common side effects include acne, breakthrough bleeding or spotting, and breast tenderness. Slynd contains 24 active pills that contain 4 mg of drospirenone and four inactive pills (“placebo pills”) in a 28-day pack.
How much does Slynd cost?
Without insurance, coupons, or discounts, Slynd can cost around $242.07 for a 28-day pack of tablets. However, the exact price you pay will likely depend on factors including your region, prescribed quantity, and pharmacy choice.
And while Slynd doesn’t have a generic equivalent, there are still ways to save on your prescription.
What factors affect the cost of Slynd?
The cost of Slynd will depend on several factors, such as:
Geographic location: The price of Slynd may vary depending on where you live. According to GoodRx research, prescription medications may cost less in certain cities, such as Atlanta and Denver, and more in other cities, such as New York and New Orleans.
Pharmacy: Prices for prescription medications can differ among local pharmacies.
Insurance: Even if your insurance covers Slynd, you may still be responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
Quantity: Slynd is only available in a prepackaged 28-day supply of tablets. However, getting more than one pack at a time, such as a 3-month supply, may decrease your per-pill cost.
Savings cards and discounts: Manufacturer copay cards and GoodRx coupons can reduce your out-of-pocket costs for brand-name medications, including Slynd, that don’t have generic versions.
Does insurance cover Slynd?
Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare), most commercial and private health plans must cover contraceptive methods and counseling at no cost, including oral contraceptives such as Slynd. However, even if your health plan covers Slynd, prior authorization may be required.
Medicare Part D may also cover Slynd as a form of contraception. While not all Medicare Part D plans cover every type of contraception, most plans cover contraceptive pills. Coverage details and costs may vary, so it's important to check your specific plan.
Though many state Medicaid plans provide coverage for Slynd, some may not. Medicaid coverage can vary by state, and some programs have rules including quantity limits, age restrictions, generic requirements, and preferred medication lists.
Birth control choices: From an intrauterine device (IUD) to a patch or ring, here’s your guide to contraceptive options.
Want to compare birth control pill brands? Check out the pros and cons to see which brand may be right for you.
Birth control interactions: Did you know that oral contraceptives are more likely to interact with supplements than other forms of contraception?
How different insurance plans cover Slynd
The following table shows your likelihood of coverage for Slynd, as well as the need for prior authorization and step therapy, with different types of insurance plans:
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Slynd | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans | 67.6% | 11.6% | 1.9% |
Commercial (not including ACA plans) | 77.3% | 8.7% | 5.0% |
Medicaid (including state-run and managed care plans) | 99.9% | 54.1% | 0.9% |
Medicare (including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage) | 8.3% | 0% | 0.1% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of September 26, 2024. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Slynd, here are some actions you can take:
Talk to your prescriber about alternative contraceptives.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. If the request is denied, consider filing an appeal for coverage.
Consider changing insurance plans during open enrollment.
Ways to save on Slynd
Regardless of whether you have insurance, here are three ways to save on Slynd:
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
You can use a GoodRx coupon to save money on Slynd. With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay $194.83 for a 28-day supply of Slynd.
To get your free GoodRx coupon:
Visit goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app.
Type “Slynd” in the search box and click or tap return.
Select the correct quantity and your location.
Choose to receive your coupon via text or email, or print it out. Show the coupon at the pharmacy before they start filling your prescription to avoid delays in processing.
2. Save with a manufacturer coupon
You can lower your out-of-pocket costs with a manufacturer savings program. If eligible, you could potentially pay $25 for both a 28-day (1-month) supply or an 84-day (3-month) supply of Slynd. Keep in mind that maximum savings limits will apply, and the final cost will depend on your insurance coverage. The offer isn’t available for people with coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs. For cash-paying patients, the cost is around $35 for a 28-day supply or $60 for an 84-day supply.
3. Fill an 84-day supply to save
Ask your healthcare professional about getting an 84-day (3-month) supply instead of a 28-day (1-month) supply. A larger supply often costs less per pill, and it will save you time with fewer trips to the pharmacy.
Are there alternatives to Slynd?
While there’s no generic version for Slynd yet, there are other progestin-only birth control pills. These may be alternatives if cost is preventing you from accessing Slynd.
Norethindrone is a generic, progestin-only birth control pill. It’s a common alternative to Slynd and works similarly. Its average price without insurance is $15.39. With GoodRx, it may cost as low as $9.00.
There are other versions of norethindrone available that go by different names. Errin, Heather, and Camila are a few examples. These are also generic versions of the medication (called branded generics). They have similar costs to norethindrone tablets. And if needed, your pharmacist can substitute a different generic version to get you the lowest-cost form of norethindrone.
The bottom line
Slynd (drospirenone) is a progestin-only birth control pill approved to prevent pregnancy. Without insurance, a 28-day supply can cost around $242.07. Still, your exact cost may vary based on your location, pharmacy, and other factors. You can also save with a manufacturer savings program or use a GoodRx coupon to potentially lower your out-of-pocket costs regardless of your insurance status.
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 September 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
Berger, K. (2018). The FDA, generics and differentiating authorized from branded types. Pharmacy Times.
Exeltis USA, Inc. (n.d.). Slynd patient savings program.
Exeltis USA, Inc. (2024). Slynd- drospirenone kit [package insert]. DailyMed.
Freed, M., et al. (2024). Coverage of sexual and reproductive health services in Medicare. KFF.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Ranji, U., et al. (2022). Medicaid coverage of family planning benefits: Findings from a 2021 state survey. KFF.
UnitedHealthcare Services, Inc. (2024). UnitedHealthcare Pharmacy clinical pharmacy programs.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). HHS, DOL, and Treasury issue guidance regarding birth control coverage.
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