The first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill was approved last year. It’s called Opill, and over the past month or so, it has finally started showing up on pharmacy shelves. Finally I can answer those questions everyone was asking when it was first approved: How much does it actually cost? And will insurance cover it?
What is Opill’s sticker price?
The price for Opill you’ll see on almost every website is $19.99 per pack. (This is sometimes described as a “monthly” pack, but there are only 28 pills per pack; as is common with birth control. You’ll go through about 13 packs per year.)
Some sellers have single packs available for slightly less. Right now, Amazon and Walmart are both charging $18.97, saving you about a dollar.
Can you get Opill at a discount?
You can save a few bucks by buying two or three packs at a time. The sticker price for a three-“month” pack of Opill is $49.99, or $16.66 per pack.
If you don’t have insurance, you live in the U.S., and your household income is below 200% of the federal poverty line, you’re eligible for Opill maker Perrigo’s cost assistance program, which will provide the medication at “reduced or no cost.” To find out more and to sign up, visit the cost assistance program page here.
Will insurance cover Opill?
Maybe! In general, the Affordable Care Act requires insurance plans to cover birth control pills as a form of preventive care. The law doesn’t specifically require them to cover this brand of pills, or to cover OTC pills, so they aren’t automatically included.
That said, if your insurance uses CVS Caremark for its pharmacy benefits, you’ll be happy to know that CVS has included Opill on its list of zero-cost contraceptives. Contact your insurance provider for specifics on your coverage.
Several states have also passed laws requiring over-the-counter birth control to be covered by insurance, although the details vary by state. The Kaiser Family Foundation has a rundown of state laws here. California, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Washington all have state laws that theoretically could apply to Opill. Again, check with your insurance company to find out what coverage is available for you.
