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Contraceptive Pearl: Birth Control for Less: Low-Cost Oral Contraceptives

The Affordable Care Act mandates free birth control pills for most patients with health insurance. However, uninsured people and many people with a religious employer don’t benefit from this policy. For uninsured and underinsured people, access to affordable contraception is difficult. Fortunately, there are several ways for clinicians to help patients get birth control pills at an affordable price.

Many birth control pills are available at a reduced or no cost through the manufacturers’ patient assistance programs. Program eligibility requirements vary, but generally patients must be a US resident or citizen, have proof of income, meet income restrictions, and be uninsured.

Some pharmacies offer generic birth control pills at a low cost. Walmart, for example, offers generic birth control pills for as little as $9/month. GoodRx allows patients to search pills by brand, displaying prices and coupons available at multiple pharmacies. 

Many online pharmacies offer low-cost generic birth control pills. Pandia Health offers pills for $15/pack delivered to patients of any age, in any state. PRJKT RUBY offers pills as low as $20/pack. Many online providers of birth control pills require a consultation with a clinician, for which there may be a fee. Examples include Nurx, PlushCare, HeyDoctor, Favor, and Maven. Because some online pharmacies sell contaminated or ineffective medications, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy provides a search tool to verify pharmacies’ safety.

 

Helpful Resources

Information on Pharmacies with Low-Cost Birth Control Pills

Pill User Guide

Progestin Only Pill (Mini-Pill) User Guide

340B Drug Pricing Program: Generic birth control pills ordered through the 340B program cost very little

Rx Assist: Database of patient assistant programs, allows search by medication or drug company

 

Sources

Ibis Reproductive Health. Who prescribes the pill online? Free The Pill website. Updated August 28, 2019. Accessed October 8, 2019. Retrieved from: www.freethepill.org/online-pill-prescribing-resources/.

Kaiser Family Foundation. Oral Contraceptive Pills. Women’s Health Policy. Published May 23, 2019. Retrieved from: www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/oral-contraceptive-pills/.

 

Pharma-free

The Reproductive Health Access Project does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. We do not promote specific brands of medication or contraception. The information in the Contraceptive Pearls is unbiased, based on science alone.

Contraceptive Pearls

This monthly clinical e-newsletter highlights evidence-based best practice for contraceptive care

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