Contraceptive costs

Contraceptive costs refer to expenses incurred for prescription and over-the-counter birth control methods, including pills, IUDs, patches, injections, and condoms. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance plans must cover FDA-approved contraceptives for women without out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays or deductibles.

Some grandfathered plans and short-term health insurance policies may not provide contraceptive coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2023 report. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to pay for eligible contraceptives like condoms or emergency contraception with pre-tax dollars.

The average retail price of a monthly birth control pill pack is $20–$50 without insurance, based on Planned Parenthood data. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) cost between $500 and $1,300 upfront if not insured, as reported by GoodRx.

Most insurance plans require a doctor’s prescription for coverage of hormonal methods such as the pill, patch, or ring, as confirmed by YourInsurance.info (Your Insurance Info). Male sterilization procedures (vasectomy) cost about $1,000 under private pay but may not be covered under all plans; female sterilization is mandated for coverage by ACA-compliant policies.

Over-the-counter options like Plan B can cost $40–$50 per dose and are typically not covered unless prescribed. Insurers in some states–California and Illinois among them–must also cover vasectomies without cost-sharing due to state mandates as of 2024.

If your plan denies contraceptive coverage, you can file an appeal directly with your insurer or through your state’s Department of Insurance according to Healthcare.Gov guidance.