The Pill: Costs, How To Use
Costs
The Right Time health centers stock all methods of contraception and offer free or low-cost contraception to those who need it. If you have health insurance, chances are good that you’ll be able to get this method with no out-of-pocket cost.
If you don’t have insurance or Medicaid coverage, the pill averages anywhere from $10 to $113 per month, depending on whether you go generic or name brand. Tip: There are many kinds, so be sure you and your health care provider find one that is right for you.
Prices:
- This method may be free or low-cost for you at The Right Time health centers.
- With Medicaid: Free
- With insurance: Free under most plans
- Without insurance: The full price of the pill can range from $10 - $113 a month.
- Payment assistance: For brand-name pills, contact the manufacturer’s website for information about coupons and discounts. Or contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at 1-888-477-2669. Or, call Janssen Prescription Assistance at 1-866-317-2775. Also, check with your local The Right Time health care center and find out if they offer free or low-cost birth control pills (most do).
How To Use
If you can swallow an aspirin, you can take the pill. But here’s the thing: You have to remember to take it every day, at roughly the same time, no matter what.
Some pills come in 21-day packs. Others come in 28-day packs. Some give you a regular period every month. Others let you have your period once every three months. And some even let you skip your period for an entire year. There are so many different pills available, it can be a bit confusing. Your doctor or health center can help you figure out which pill is right for you.
Tips and tricks
Try taking your pill at the same time you always do something else in your daily routine—like brushing your teeth.
Have a box of emergency contraception on hand, just in case you forget your pill sometime during the month and then have sex without a condom or other barrier method.
