How much is birth control without insurance?

Birth control costs depend on the pieces of the bill

We do not give a dollar range on this page. We could not find a current national price for birth control from a government agency, a research group or a health system. Many websites list averages, but we cannot tell where those numbers come from. Prices differ a lot from one place to the next.

The pieces of a birth control bill are easier to understand one at a time, and knowing them helps you ask for a clear quote.

• A method you take on a schedule, like a pill, is bought again and again, so the cost repeats each month or each pack.
• A method placed by a clinician, like an IUD, has a larger cost up front. You do not pay the device price again each month. An IUD is a small device that a clinician places in the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
• The visit itself is billed as a separate charge. It may include an exam, a pregnancy test or other tests, and you can ask which ones you need.
• Generic versions of a medicine are copies of a brand-name medicine with the same active ingredient, and they often cost less. Ask the pharmacist what the generic cash price is.
• Different pharmacies can charge different prices for the same prescription, so call two or three.

Our guide on how to ask for the cash price has a phone script that works at clinics and pharmacies.

IUD costs add up in pieces

Compared with a pack of pills, an IUD usually costs more at the start, but a single device stays in place for years. The total can include the device, the exam, the insertion visit and any follow-up visit. Some offices bill these as one price and some bill each piece.

When you call, ask for the self-pay price of every part, which is the price for people who pay without insurance. Ask whether that number covers the device and the insertion, and whether a follow-up visit costs extra. Then ask the office to send you the price in writing.

You can also ask for a written estimate if you schedule the visit ahead of time. The guide on the good faith estimate explains your right to one.

Title X clinics charge by income

Title X is a federal family planning program. Its clinics offer birth control and pregnancy testing. They also screen for cancer and test for sexually transmitted infections, which are infections passed through sex. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the program mainly serves people with low incomes or no health insurance.

Your income decides how much you pay at a Title X clinic. Under federal policy, a person at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level must not be charged for family planning services. Someone between 101 and 250 percent pays on a sliding scale, which means the fee depends on ability to pay. Above that level, fees are meant to cover the clinic's reasonable cost.

News reports and letters from members of Congress say Title X money was held back or delayed for some clinics in 2025 and 2026. Some of those clinics cut services or closed. Call a clinic before you go to make sure it is open and still uses Title X fees. The federal Title X clinic locator can help you find the ones near you.

One birth control pill is sold without a prescription

One type of daily birth control pill can be bought without a prescription. On July 13, 2023, the FDA, which is the federal Food and Drug Administration, approved the first one. It is sold in stores and online, according to the FDA. The price is set by the company that makes it, so we cannot tell you what it costs near you.

This pill has only one hormone, called a progestin. People should not take it if they have or ever had breast cancer, or if they use another hormonal birth control product, the FDA says. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. A pharmacist can answer your questions about it, and you should read the label before you start.

Other types of birth control still need a prescription or a clinician. Which method fits you is a decision to make with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, and this page cannot make it for you.

Other ways to pay less

Several kinds of places may help, and they are worth a phone call.

• A community health center charges on a sliding scale based on income and serves people even if they cannot pay. The guide on community health centers shows how to find one.
• Your local health department may run a family planning clinic or know where one is.
• A direct primary care doctor can talk through your options and write a prescription. The membership fee is usually $50 to $200 a month, and you can search for a cash-pay doctor near you.
• A free helpline called 2-1-1 can point you to local clinics.

People with insurance often get birth control at no cost. HealthCare.gov says Marketplace plans cover FDA-approved methods with no cost when you have a prescription from an in-network provider. That rule helps people who have a plan and does not apply if you are uninsured. If you lost coverage recently, our guide on losing your job and your insurance explains your options.

When to get care right away

If you have severe pain, heavy bleeding or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Read the ER without insurance guide to see what to expect. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.