Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFree Birth ControlTypes of Birth ControlConsiderationsAffordable OptionsConsultationCostsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Free Birth Control
Types of Birth Control
Considerations
Affordable Options
Consultation
Costs
Frequently Asked Questions
There are manybirth controloptions available, and it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for you. The stress of covering the cost can be an added burden. But if you’re sexually active, it’s important to adopt a birth control method toavoid unwanted pregnancy. Cost doesn’t have to be a barrier to access, particularly if you have insurance.
This article discusses thebirth controloptions available, where to begin your search, and how to get birth control for little-to-no money out of pocket, even if you don’t have insurance.
Can You Get Free Birth Control?
The short answer is yes, but access varies based on whether you have health insurance and where you live. Some states have laws that make it easy and convenient for women to get free birth control. In other states it can be more challenging, but it is possible.
Where the Government Stands
TheAffordable Care Act(ACA), a healthcare law that was created to provide affordable health insurance to Americans, includes benefits for free birth control.Although the federal government has implemented this law, individual states may have their own requirements.
How to Choose Contraception
IUDs and Implants
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small, flexible, plastic devices that are inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. They can be inserted for several years and removed at any time a woman wants to conceive.
Implants are inserted into the upper arm and can stay in place for up to three years.
Some of the options include:
How to Choose the Right IUD
The Pill
Oral contraception(birth control pills) is one of the most common forms of birth control. The two main types of oral contraceptives are:
The Patch
This form of birth control adheres directly to the skin and stays on for three weeks straight. On the fourth week, you removethe patchto allow for a menstrual cycle and, once it’s over, start the process again.
The Ring
The Shot
The shot (Depo-Provera), also referred to as “the injection,” requires a quarterly appointment with your healthcare provider to receive an injection of the hormone progestin.
Barrier Methods
Barrier methods of birth control block sperm from entering a uterus and reaching an egg.
Barrier methods do not have any hormonal component and, in some cases, can protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).They are available without a prescription, so they usually require out-of-pocket payment.
Some barrier methods include:
Emergency Contraceptives
The copper IUD is a small T-shaped instrument that works as an emergency contraceptive if it is placed in the uterus within five days of unprotected sex.
There are also emergency contraception pills (morning-after pills) that must be taken within the same time frame to prevent an unintended pregnancy.This method may require an out-of-pocket cost.
Permanent Birth ControlThere are permanent birth control options for men and women. For people assigned male at birth, a surgical procedure called avasectomyis performed. People assigned female at birth can undergotubal ligation, commonly known as “tube tying,” which blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents sperm from ever meeting an egg.
Permanent Birth Control
There are permanent birth control options for men and women. For people assigned male at birth, a surgical procedure called avasectomyis performed. People assigned female at birth can undergotubal ligation, commonly known as “tube tying,” which blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents sperm from ever meeting an egg.
What to Consider Before Choosing
Selecting birth control is a personal choice, so it’s important to consider how different types will work with your lifestyle.
If you’re a busy college student with an inconsistent schedule, remembering to take a pill at the same time every day might be difficult.
Ultimately, the “right” method of birth control is the one you use consistently.
If You’re a Minor
A very common concern among people under the age of 18 is having the discussion about birth control with their parents.
Some states allow minors to provide consent to obtain birth control without any conditions. Other states allow minors to provide consent in specific situations, such as if the minor is married or if the minor is a parent. A few states don’t have any specific laws about this at all.
Check out the laws in your state to learn about consent for birth control.
Another important factor to consider is how birth control will affect your body. You know your body best, so it’s important to ask your healthcare provider questions about possible side effects and speak up if you feel like something isn’t right.
If You’re an Adult
Talk to your provider about your health history to determine the best birth control option for you. Different types of birth control are not recommended for people with certain health conditions. Others can decrease in effectiveness depending on whether you have been pregnant before.
Be aware that some states allow employers with religious affiliations not to cover birth control.
Where to Get Affordable Birth Control
If you don’t have insurance or access to healthcare, there are other places where you can get affordable birth control.
Without Insurance
If you don’t have health insurance, you can still obtain birth control through the following means:
In July 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvedOpill (norgestrel), a progestin-only oral contraceptive, to be sold OTC. Opill is the first and only birth control pill available without a prescription. Before starting a birth control method, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider, even if your method of choice doesn’t require a prescription.
With Insurance
Some insurance companies will cover certain birth control options as either a medical benefit or a pharmacy benefit, so be sure to check both.
Having health insurance does afford those with coverage the luxury of having a variety of affordable and even free options available. If you have insurance, but don’t have a PCP, the options listed above typically accept insurance as well.
Finding Coupons
Coupons to help with the cost of birth control are also available online.
GoodRxis a reputable site that offers coupons for free. Just search for the brand of birth control you have been prescribed and it will provide coupons to common pharmacies inside stores like Walgreens, Target, and Costco.
Your local pharmacy is another great resource to tap into. Ask your pharmacist about any coupons or rebates that are available.
Going Through Your Healthcare Provider
Before a provider will write you a prescription for birth control, they will ask you about your health history and get a quick blood pressure reading.
In Person
If you plan to get an IUD, diaphragm, or cervical cap, your healthcare provider will need to do apelvic exam.Most other forms of birth control do not require it, but if you haven’t had one in a while, your healthcare provider may suggest a full exam as a preventive measure.
For people at risk for pregnancy who are considering the pill or another hormonal form of birth control containing estrogen, a healthcare provider will ask to take your blood pressure to make sure it is within the recommended range for the specific medication.
Birth control with estrogen is not recommended for people withhigh blood pressure, as it can furtherincrease blood pressureand the risk ofheart attackorstroke.
You can expect for the conversation with your healthcare provider to cover your health history as well as sexual history and habits. It is crucial that you advocate for yourself, so ask questions if anything your healthcare provider shares with you is unclear. Some patients write down questions before the visit to help them remember.
How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Birth Control
Telehealth
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a huge rise in the availability oftelehealth(accessing healthcare through electronic means) through computers and cell phones.
One preliminary study about telemedicine for birth control counseling found that 51% of women who used the service during the pandemic would use it in the future for its effectiveness and convenience.
Cost of Birth Control
Cost of Birth ControlTypeCostEfficacyIUD$0–$1,30099%Copper IUD$0–$1,30099%Implant$0–$1,30099%Shot$0–$15094%Pill$0–$5091%Patch$0–$15091%Ring$0–$20091%Diaphragm$0–$7588%Cervical cap$0–$9071%–86%Sponge$0–$1576%–88%External condom$0–$285%Internal condom$0–$379%Spermicide$0–$27072%Permanent$0–$6,00099%SummaryWith insurance or without, there are many low-cost or free birth control options available. The Affordable Care Act provides benefits for free birth control. There are also over-the-counter options as well as local clinics and assistance programs where you can obtain free or low-cost birth control.A Word From VerywellGetting birth control doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, invasive, or expensive. Every person deserves fair access to birth control, regardless of income. There are many low-cost or free birth control options available to you to keep you safe and protect you from unwanted pregnancy.Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you don’t have insurance, you can get birth control through a public health clinic, a Title X program, or through your local pharmacy.Obamacare, also known as theAffordable Care Act, requires states to provide free birth control and counseling, with some exemptions for religious employers.Learn MoreBirth Control BenefitsChoosing birth control is a personal decision. It’s important to consider your lifestyle, health history, sexual habits, and budget. If you have access to a healthcare provider, discuss your various options with them.
Summary
With insurance or without, there are many low-cost or free birth control options available. The Affordable Care Act provides benefits for free birth control. There are also over-the-counter options as well as local clinics and assistance programs where you can obtain free or low-cost birth control.
A Word From Verywell
Getting birth control doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, invasive, or expensive. Every person deserves fair access to birth control, regardless of income. There are many low-cost or free birth control options available to you to keep you safe and protect you from unwanted pregnancy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you don’t have insurance, you can get birth control through a public health clinic, a Title X program, or through your local pharmacy.Obamacare, also known as theAffordable Care Act, requires states to provide free birth control and counseling, with some exemptions for religious employers.Learn MoreBirth Control BenefitsChoosing birth control is a personal decision. It’s important to consider your lifestyle, health history, sexual habits, and budget. If you have access to a healthcare provider, discuss your various options with them.
If you don’t have insurance, you can get birth control through a public health clinic, a Title X program, or through your local pharmacy.
Obamacare, also known as theAffordable Care Act, requires states to provide free birth control and counseling, with some exemptions for religious employers.Learn MoreBirth Control Benefits
Obamacare, also known as theAffordable Care Act, requires states to provide free birth control and counseling, with some exemptions for religious employers.
Learn MoreBirth Control Benefits
Choosing birth control is a personal decision. It’s important to consider your lifestyle, health history, sexual habits, and budget. If you have access to a healthcare provider, discuss your various options with them.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Healthcare.gov.Affordable care act (Aca).American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.UpToDate, Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (beyond the basics).Planned Parenthood.How does the copper IUD work as emergency contraception?Planned Parenthood.Which kind of emergency contraception should I use?Guttmacher Institute.Minors’ access to contraceptive services.HealthCare.gov.Birth control benefits and reproductive health care options in the Health Insurance Marketplace®.National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.Pharmacist prescribing hormonal contraceptives.American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Do I need to have a pelvic exam to get birth control?Shufelt C, LeVee A.Hormonal contraception in women with hypertension.JAMA. 2020;324(14):1451. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11935Stifani BM, Smith A, Avila K, et al.Telemedicine for contraceptive counseling: Patient experiences during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.Contraception. 2021;104(3):254-261. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.04.006
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Healthcare.gov.Affordable care act (Aca).American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.UpToDate, Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (beyond the basics).Planned Parenthood.How does the copper IUD work as emergency contraception?Planned Parenthood.Which kind of emergency contraception should I use?Guttmacher Institute.Minors’ access to contraceptive services.HealthCare.gov.Birth control benefits and reproductive health care options in the Health Insurance Marketplace®.National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.Pharmacist prescribing hormonal contraceptives.American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Do I need to have a pelvic exam to get birth control?Shufelt C, LeVee A.Hormonal contraception in women with hypertension.JAMA. 2020;324(14):1451. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11935Stifani BM, Smith A, Avila K, et al.Telemedicine for contraceptive counseling: Patient experiences during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.Contraception. 2021;104(3):254-261. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.04.006
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Healthcare.gov.Affordable care act (Aca).American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.UpToDate, Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (beyond the basics).Planned Parenthood.How does the copper IUD work as emergency contraception?Planned Parenthood.Which kind of emergency contraception should I use?Guttmacher Institute.Minors’ access to contraceptive services.HealthCare.gov.Birth control benefits and reproductive health care options in the Health Insurance Marketplace®.National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.Pharmacist prescribing hormonal contraceptives.American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Do I need to have a pelvic exam to get birth control?Shufelt C, LeVee A.Hormonal contraception in women with hypertension.JAMA. 2020;324(14):1451. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11935Stifani BM, Smith A, Avila K, et al.Telemedicine for contraceptive counseling: Patient experiences during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.Contraception. 2021;104(3):254-261. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.04.006
Healthcare.gov.Affordable care act (Aca).
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.
UpToDate, Kaunitz AM.Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (beyond the basics).
Planned Parenthood.How does the copper IUD work as emergency contraception?
Planned Parenthood.Which kind of emergency contraception should I use?
Guttmacher Institute.Minors’ access to contraceptive services.
HealthCare.gov.Birth control benefits and reproductive health care options in the Health Insurance Marketplace®.
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.Pharmacist prescribing hormonal contraceptives.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Do I need to have a pelvic exam to get birth control?
Shufelt C, LeVee A.Hormonal contraception in women with hypertension.JAMA. 2020;324(14):1451. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11935
Stifani BM, Smith A, Avila K, et al.Telemedicine for contraceptive counseling: Patient experiences during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.Contraception. 2021;104(3):254-261. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.04.006
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
