Nexplanon

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Philip Ngo, PharmD
Updated on July 15, 2024

Nexplanon is a brand-name birth control implant that’s prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. Nexplanon is not available in a generic version. The cost of Nexplanon with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Read on to learn about Nexplanon and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Nexplanon, including its uses, refer to this overview article. 

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Cost of Nexplanon

Like other medications, the cost of Nexplanon can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to get Nexplanon implanted

To find out how much Nexplanon costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Nexplanon” section.

Coupons for Nexplanon

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Nexplanon. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Nexplanon

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Nexplanon. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Nexplanon. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of Nexplanon may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional needs to implant (insert) Nexplanon (a thin, plastic rod) under the skin of your arm. The cost of Nexplanon will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether it’s implanted at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Nexplanon is a brand-name birth control implant that contains the active drug etonogestrel. Nexplanon is not available in a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Why costs are different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions.

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Nexplanon and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Nexplanon.

How much does Nexplanon cost with insurance?

The cost of Nexplanon with insurance depends on the doctor’s office you visit and your specific insurance coverage. Nexplanon is a brand-name birth control implant. It’s inserted under the skin of your upper arm by a healthcare professional. This means you may have a higher copay.

Also, your insurance provider may require prior authorization before deciding to cover any of the cost of Nexplanon. If this is the case, your doctor will talk with your insurance provider about why this medication is best for you.

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider about what the cost of Nexplanon is for you.

What’s the price of Nexplanon without insurance?

The price of Nexplanon without insurance depends on the doctor’s office you visit and whether you use a drug coupon. Nexplanon is a brand-name birth control implant. This means it’s usually more expensive than generic medications.

Nexplanon needs to be inserted under your skin by a healthcare professional. This may be an additional cost to you. Keep in mind that a Nexplanon implant can remain under your skin for up to 3 years.

To help lower your cost of Nexplanon, you can use a prescription drug coupon. See the “Coupons for Nexplanon” section for more information.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your options to lower your cost of Nexplanon.

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Nexplanon (etonogestrel implant). (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/487f8a62-e142-457c-97cc-2e398fde7594/spl-doc?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.