How Much Is Sprintec Without Insurance?

An estimated 10 million women in the U.S. take oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, to prevent pregnancy. Some oral contraceptives, such as Sprintec (norgestimate / ethinyl estradiol), contain synthetic versions of estrogen and progestin. Others, like norethindrone (Errin, Heather), only contain a progestin.

Sprintec is an FDA-approved medication that helps prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg, or ovulation. It also thickens the mucus in the cervix to make it harder for sperm to enter the uterus and thins the lining of the uterus to make it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant and start a pregnancy.

Like other combination oral contraceptives, Sprintec’s common side effects include menstruation changes, headaches, and breast pain or tenderness. More serious — but less common — side effects include an increased risk of heart attacks, blood clots, and stroke.

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Sprintec basics

Sprintec is a combination birth control pill that contains norgestimate (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). When used as directed, the medication is effective at helping prevent pregnancy.

Sprintec, which is a branded generic of the discontinued medication Ortho-Cyclen, comes in a 28-tablet blister packet. Each packet includes:

• 21 blue tablets that each contain 0.25 mg of norgestimate and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol

• 7 white placebo tablets, which don’t contain medication

It’s important to take the tablets at the same time every day. The more consistent you are, the more effective the medication is at preventing pregnancy.

Women with preexisting cardiovascular conditions or who smoke and are over 35 years old should not take combination oral contraceptives like Sprintec. Taking estrogen-containing birth control pills and smoking cigarettes can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular events like stroke or heart attacks.

The chart below provides a summary of basic information about Sprintec.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• A popular contraceptive: Sprintec, which contains a combination of an estrogen and a progestin, is one of the most commonly prescribed birth control pills in the U.S.

• How effective are birth control pills? Oral contraceptives have a more than 90% success rate, even with typical (not perfect) use.

• Birth control pill side effects: Commonly reported side effects of birth control pills include changes in menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, headaches, and breast tenderness.

Sprintec basics

Is Sprintec covered by insurance?

FDA-approved birth control methods, including Sprintec, are considered preventive care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As such, most commercial and ACA marketplace plans cover birth control with no cost-sharing — meaning there’s no copay or coinsurance required. Some plans may not cover certain generic or brand-name birth control options, but most health insurance plans, including most Medicare plans, cover Sprintec.

Most Medicaid programs also offer some family planning benefits, including prescription contraceptive coverage, and almost all cover Sprintec. If you have health insurance, check your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary to determine whether Sprintec is covered.

How insurance covers Sprintec

Sprintec is covered by most insurance plans without a prior authorization or step therapy. However, a prior authorization is required for about 1 in 8 people with Medicaid.

The following chart shows the percentage of people who have coverage and face restrictions, such as prior authorization and step therapy, for a variety of insurance plans.

Insurance coverage for Sprintec

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of October 17, 2024. (See methodology below.)

Tips for if your medication isn’t covered by insurance

If your insurance does not cover Sprintec, here are a few steps you can take:

• Ask your pharmacist to see if other generic versions of Ortho-Cyclen are covered by your plan. Remember, Sprintec is a generic medication. So your pharmacist should be able to substitute other generic versions without needing to contact your prescriber.

• Consult your prescriber about alternatives.

• Ask for a formulary exception from your prescription medication plan. You may be required to do step therapy or get a prior authorization to get coverage.

• If you request a formulary exception and it’s denied, file an appeal with your plan.

• Use a GoodRx coupon for potential savings.

• During your next open enrollment period, consider switching your prescription medication coverage.

How much does Sprintec cost without insurance?

If you don’t have health insurance, what you’ll pay for Sprintec will depend on factors such as your:

• Fill amount (i.e., 28-day supply versus 84-day supply)

• Specific pharmacy

• Geographic location

The average cost for 1 package of Sprintec is $11.82 without insurance.

Ways to save on generic Sprintec without insurance

Here are five ways to save on generic Sprintec without insurance.

1. Use a GoodRx coupon

With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to lower the price of your Sprintec prescription. For instance, at certain pharmacies, you may be able to pay as little as $9.00 for 1 pack of Sprintec by using a GoodRx coupon.

Here’s how to get a coupon:

• Install the GoodRx app on your mobile device or visit www.goodrx.com.

• Type “Sprintec” or the name of another generic version of Ortho-Cyclen in the search field.

• Choose the correct quantity and a location that’s convenient for you.

• Select “Search prices” to find prices at nearby pharmacies.

• Choose to receive your coupon via text or email, or print it out.

• Present the coupon to your pharmacist when you pick up your medication. Or give the coupon to the pharmacy’s 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. Request a larger quantity

Ask your prescriber to write you a prescription for 3 or 6 packages of Sprintec (an 84-day or 168-day supply) instead of 1 package (a 28-day supply) to compare costs. Filling a larger quantity may lower your overall costs and reduce your trips to the pharmacy. The average price for 3 packages of Sprintec is around $37.23 without insurance. For 6 packages, the average cost is around $75.35.

3. Compare prices at various pharmacies

Use GoodRx to easily compare costs at different pharmacies to help you find the best price for Sprintec in your area.

4. Ask your prescriber about alternatives

If you are concerned about the cost of Sprintec, speak with your prescriber. They may suggest alternatives like another combination oral contraceptive, the patch, or an injection. Then, you can compare your options to see which one fits your budget while meeting your needs.

5. Use your tax-advantaged healthcare funds

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), consider using those funds to pay for Sprintec. Doing this could reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Angela Mae Watson

Angela Mae Watson is a freelance personal finance and health writer. She has more than 8 years of experience educating about financial awareness and literacy.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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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).