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If you’ve had sex without a condom or other barrier method and are worried about pregnancy, Plan B is safe and relatively affordable. Read on to learn more.
Plan B, also called the “morning-after pill,” is emergency contraception intended to be taken within 72 hours of sex without a condom or barrier method.
It works by temporarily delaying ovulation, similar to the mechanism of birth control pills. By delaying the release of an egg from an ovary, there won’t be an egg waiting to meet sperm to be fertilized.
Plan B One-Step is one popular brand, but there are other options to consider, including generic Plan B, and Ella, the other emergency contraceptive approved by the FDA.
While you typically need to request it if purchasing at a pharmacy, you do not need a prescription or ID to obtain Plan B. Read on to learn more about how much Plan B costs and where to find it.
Brand-name Plan B One-Step usually costs $40 to $50, though generic Plan B options can cost as little as $11.
Emergency contraceptives are eligible for reimbursement by using any of these accounts:
You should be able to use these accounts whether you’re purchasing the morning-after pill online or in-store.
Plan B One-Step is also available on the brand’s website, where you may be able to use a $10 off coupon. It’s also available at discounted rates via GoodRx.
Can you get Plan B for free?
If you’re insured or have Medicaid, you may be able to obtain free Plan B.
But even if you’re not insured, you may be able to receive emergency contraception for free or at a low cost from Planned Parenthood, your local health department, or other low cost clinics in your area.
If you choose to purchase through a telehealth platform, you may be able to use your insurance. But depending on the platform, you may also need a healthcare professional to write a prescription so insurance will cover it. Here are a few options.
- Nurx: The platform offers generic Plan B, which doesn’t require a prescription, for $14.99 per pill out of pocket. Ella costs $45 per pill out of pocket, or as little as $0 with insurance after a $15 medical consultation that provides the prescription. Medicaid is not accepted.
- Wisp: Generic Plan B costs $18 per pill. Ella costs $44. Neither medication requires a prescription through Wisp, but insurance and Medicaid are not accepted.
- Pandia Health: Plan B is free with most insurance and costs $26 to $42 out of pocket. You’ll need a prescription for Ella. Medicaid is accepted.
Plan B purchase options
Plan B and generic Plan B are available online, through the platforms mentioned above, and at major retailers, including Amazon, Target, CVS, Walgreens.
Just know that if you’re order online through retailer websites, you can’t enter insurance information. This means you’ll have to pay full price.
If you get a prescription for emergency contraception and take it to an in-person retail pharmacy, you should be able to use your insurance.
All versions of the morning-after pill are essentially the same
- Take Action
- My Way
- Option 2
- Preventeza
- My Choice
- Aftera
- EContra
All of these options typically cost less than the branded version, and you can usually find them through the same retailers that offer the branded pill.
If you plan on asking your healthcare professional for a Plan B prescription (to help lower the cost by using your insurance to cover it), you can ask for generic Plan B specifically or specify your preference when requesting it over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Taking Plan B is fairly straightforward: You take one tablet by mouth within 72 hours of having unprotected sex (the sooner, the better). You must take it within this timeframe in order for it to be effective.
In fact, if you have access to Plan B already, take it immediately. It’s 95% effective if taken within 24 hours. If taken between 48 and 72 hours after unprotected sex, that efficacy rate goes down to 61%.
If you haven’t gotten your period within 3 weeks of having sex without a condom or barrier method and took Plan B on time, you should take a home pregnancy test and visit your doctor to confirm whether you’re pregnant.
Though you can take the morning-after pill up to 5 days after having unprotected sex, between 48 and 72 hours, its efficacy rate drops to 61%.
Opting for Paragard, the copper IUD, may give you better odds, as it reduces your chance of pregnancy by 99.9% even within 5 days.
The only drawback is that you’ll need an appointment with your health care provider to insert it which may take extra time to schedule.
You do not need to take Plan B twice in 2 days. Taking extra doses so close together may cause unwanted side effects.
While there’s no limit as to how often you can take it, it’s not recommended to substitute Plan B for birth control. This is because it’s generally less effective than actual contraceptive methods.
While Plan B One-Step can be a valuable tool if you have sex without a condom or other barrier method and do not wish to become pregnant, it’s important to be educated on how it works and how to take it.
Do not use Plan B One-Step as a substitute for birth control, and talk with a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns before or after taking it.