The Shot (Depo-Provera): Costs, How To Use
Costs
The Right Time health centers offer free or low-cost contraception to those who need it. If you have insurance, chances are good that you'll be able to get this method with no out-of-pocket expense.
If you are not visiting a The Right Time health center, and you don't have insurance, this method will cost you about $25 a month—about the same as the pill. If you want to do even fewer visits to your provider—and save on transportation and exam fees—you might want to ask your health care provider about DIY depo.
Prices:
- This method may be free or low-cost for you at The Right Time health centers.
- With insurance: Free under most plans
- With Medicaid: Free
- Without insurance: The full price of a three-month shot can range from $50 - $120.
- Payment assistance: Pfizer/Wyeth offers free prescriptions (through a doctor or health care provider) to women earning less than $21,660 a year. Call 1-866-706-2400 or check out www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com.
How To Use
There’s not really much you have to do in order to use the shot—just make sure to keep regular appointments with your health care provider. You just go to the provider, have an exam, and get an injection. Every three months, you’ll go in for another injection. Easy-breezy.
Make sure to discuss the timing of your period and the shot with your provider, because that’ll help determine how soon after the shot you’ll be protected.
Also, it’s really important to get your shots on time. If you’re more than two weeks late for an injection, you may have to get a pregnancy test before the shot.
Tips and tricks
Spotting improves with time. So give it a chance—two or three cycles. (That’s six-nine months in Depo time.)
