People without insurance coverage for birth control pills can still access them, thanks to several nonprofit organizations, low cost health clinics, and government-funded programs.
If you are sexually active and want to avoid pregnancy, you may be able to access several contraceptive methods at little to no cost.
Alternatives to health insurance when buying birth control pills include:
Pharmacies and low cost clinics
Public health clinics local to you could help you get the birth control pill without insurance. These clinics can offer financial assistance to those who qualify and may help you get access to birth control without facing high costs.
You can use the Health Resources and Services Administration website to check where the nearest Federally Qualified Health Clinics are that can offer you reproductive care.
If you are attending university, you may also be able to get birth control pills for little to no cost at your university health center.
In some states, you can get a prescription for the birth control pill or other contraceptive methods, such as the patch or the ring, by visiting a pharmacy and answering some questions about your health and medical history. This means you do not have to pay the cost of a medical visit to a healthcare specialist.
The states that follow this regulation currently include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- South California
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Patient assistance programs
Several nonprofit organizations and government assistance programs can help people without insurance get access to birth control pills and medical devices to prevent pregnancy. They can help you access reproductive care at little to no cost.
Some clinics may offer these services thanks to Title X government funding. You can find the nearest Title X clinic using the Office of Population Affairs’ clinic finder.
Doctors at Planned Parenthood centers can also help you find the most appropriate type of birth control for your needs and provide you with low cost reproductive health services.
Other government assistance programs, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, may help you access birth control for free or at a low cost. Medicaid may cover the costs of certain birth control methods, such as implants or intrauterine devices (IUDs).
You can learn more about Medicaid and birth control coverage by visiting its website.
Ask for generic birth control pills
Doctors may prescribe you a brand-name birth control pill, such as Yaz (drospirenone-ethinyl-estradiol) or Tyblume (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol).
You can also find several generic birth control pills on the market, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs for contraceptives.
A 2018 study found that people can save nearly 50% of their annual expense for birth control pills by choosing to use generic medication options instead of brand-name contraceptive drugs.
Some of the generic birth control pills available on the market may include:
- drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz)
- levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Tyblume)
- norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol (Camila)
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional about whether you can take a generic birth control pill instead of a brand-name one. Generic drugs are equally effective and contain the same active ingredient as brand-name medications. They must undergo several tests to prove they have the same effect as their brand-name counterpart.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
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Get free cardOver-the-counter progestin-only pill
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a progestin-only birth control pill called Opill (norgestrel) as a nonprescription medication in July 2023. This means that you can buy Opill as an over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill, which reduces your expenses because you don’t have to speak with a healthcare professional beforehand.
That said, it still is a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before starting any birth control method, even if it does not require a prescription. This can help make sure you do not have any underlying conditions that may mean the pill is unsafe for you to take.
Alternative options
The birth control pill is not the only contraceptive option available. You can try several medical devices, implants, and contraceptive methods. In some cases, insurance policies may even cover the costs of certain contraceptive medical implants.
Some of the contraceptives available include:
- condoms
- injection of the hormone progestin
- copper T IUD
- levonorgestrel IUD
- hormones progestin and estrogen patch
- implant in the upper arm of a rod containing progestin
- hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring
- diaphragm and spermicide
How can Optum Perks help?
Optum Perks offers a free Discount Card that could help you save up to 80% on FDA-approved prescription drugs, such as birth control pills. While you cannot use it in combination with your health insurance, you can compare both to see which option will give you the biggest savings.
You can search for a specific drug here to see how much you could save on your medication.
Need to refill a birth control medication? You can get discreet and expert on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes through Optum Perks. For $29, answer a few questions online and get a treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.
Summary
If you do not have health insurance or your insurance does not cover the costs of birth control pills, you may still be able to access them.
Several nonprofit organizations and government funds can help people afford birth control pills. The FDA has also approved a nonprescription birth control pill that is available as an OTC medication.
In some U.S. states, pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills after you answer some questions about your current health and medical history. This can save you money because you do not have to visit a doctor.
Several generic birth control pills are also available on the market, and they can nearly halve your annual costs for contraceptive pills.
You may also consider an alternative contraceptive method, such as implants or IUDs. In some cases, health policies may cover the cost of these medical devices instead.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.