Plan B is a reliable form of emergency contraception that can help avert pregnancy. It’s broadly sold at many outlets, both online and in physical stores.
But just because it’s available without a prescription doesn’t mean it’s necessarily cheap.
Plan B One-Step, commonly called the morning-after pill, typically runs about $45 to $60 at major retailers such as CVS, Target, Walmart and Walgreens. No prescription, ID or age verification is required.
There are also generic versions — including Take Action, My Way and After Pill — that are cheaper, usually ranging from $11 to $40.
The particular brand you choose doesn’t change how it works — all brand-name and generic levonorgestrel emergency contraceptives function the same way.
8 Ways to Get Cheaper Plan B
The price you pay for emergency contraception varies based on several things: the brand, where you purchase it and whether you have insurance.
Here are eight strategies to lower the cost of Plan B and its generic alternatives.
- Buy Plan B before you need it
- Use this $10 off coupon from Plan B
- Look for generics
- Visit Planned Parenthood or a health department clinic
- Go to your campus health clinic
- Order directly from the manufacturer
- Use your health insurance
- Check online providers
1. Buy Plan B Before You Need It
The most economical approach to emergency contraception is to purchase it ahead of time.
Otherwise you might end up spending more than $50 on a single (though important) pill at the closest pharmacy simply because it’s the quickest option.
Plan B contains levonorgestrel, which prevents pregnancy primarily by delaying ovulation. (It is not an abortion medication, which ends an existing pregnancy.)
Keeping a box or two of Plan B in your medicine cabinet saves valuable minutes, which matter when using levonorgestrel pills.
Plan B and similar medications work best within 72 hours of unprotected sex — and are most effective within 24 hours.
Adding a pack to your shopping list not only offers reassurance — it also gives you time to compare prices and find a better deal.
Don’t Count on One-Day Shipping
We’ve all become accustomed to ultra-fast delivery from online retailers.
But if you need the morning-after pill the next morning, fast shipping isn’t always reliable.
Amazon and other big retailers have experienced shortages and longer delivery windows for emergency contraception since the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade in late June.
That can translate into delays.
When checked in early July, Amazon was out of stock on two Plan B options. The earliest arrival for a Plan B listing from a third-party seller was more than a month away, even with Prime.
After the ruling, some retailers initially limited Plan B purchases; several of those restrictions were eased in July.
2. Use This $10 Off Coupon From Plan B
The makers of Plan B provide a $10 off coupon available to print from their site.
If you’ve already bought Plan B, you can also submit your receipt online or by mail to request a $10 rebate. The rebate’s status can be tracked online.
Note from Plan B’s site: a coupon and a rebate cannot be combined on the same purchase.
3. Look for Generics
Plan B One-Step is the most recognized brand of levonorgestrel pills and has been on the market since the 1990s.
It’s frequently the priciest option, but numerous cheaper generics now exist.
Common generic names for Plan B include:
- Next Choice One Dose
- My Way
- Take Action
- AfterPill
- Option 2
- Preventeza
- My Choice
- Aftera
- EContra
- New Day
Often you’ll pay a small fraction of the brand price and get the same active ingredient and efficacy by choosing a generic.
For instance, on Amazon, Plan B may cost over $40, while the generic My Way is roughly $15. Buying a six-pack of My Way can lower the per-pill cost to about $10.
Similarly, on Walmart.com, Plan B lists for $40-plus, whereas My Choice, a generic, sells for around $10.
4. Visit Planned Parenthood or a Health Department Clinic
At one of the roughly 600 Planned Parenthood locations in the United States, you can usually obtain Plan B for about $40 or less.
Stop by a Planned Parenthood site and pick it up — appointments, ID or age disclosure are not required.
If paying full price is a hardship, the clinic may provide the morning-after pill at no cost or a reduced rate. This tends to be the quickest, most affordable option for lower-income folks.
You might be eligible to receive several packs of emergency contraception from Planned Parenthood each year.
The easiest way to determine if you qualify for a free or discounted pill is to call your local Planned Parenthood.
You can also consult your state health department website to locate nearby clinics.
Many health departments offer family planning or women’s health services — including emergency contraception — on a sliding fee scale.
5. Go to Your Campus Health Clinic
If you’re attending college, your campus health center can often supply emergency contraception at little or no cost.
Some clinics distribute pills directly, while others provide coupons or vouchers redeemable at local pharmacies.
Keep in mind campus clinics might operate limited hours or be open only during weekdays.
Vending machines have emerged as a discreet, 24-hour option for distributing emergency contraception on many campuses.
From large universities to smaller rural colleges, an increasing number of institutions install these machines to provide convenient access.
Call your student health center to learn what your college offers.
If you’re in high school, consider asking the school nurse whether emergency contraception is available or whether they can refer you.
6. Order After Pill for $20 Directly From the Company
If you’re purchasing emergency contraception to have on hand rather than needing it immediately, the manufacturer sells After Pill for $20 plus $5 shipping through the company website.
But if you need it urgently, this won’t be the right option — After Pill generally takes at least five to seven business days to arrive.
7. Use Your Health Insurance
With health insurance or Medicaid, you might pay $0 for Plan B or its equivalents.
Although Plan B is sold over the counter, a healthcare provider can still write a prescription so insurance will cover it.
Taking that path could mean no out-of-pocket cost, especially with Medicaid or if you’ve already met your annual deductible.
If insurance doesn’t cover the full cost — for instance, if you have a high-deductible plan — a price-checking app like GoodRx can help you locate the cheapest pharmacy locally.
In July checks, filling a Plan B prescription without insurance could be as low as $10.55 and commonly between $11 and $13 at several pharmacies.
8. Check Online Providers
Telehealth companies — such as Nurx, Wisp and Favor (previously The Pill Club) — can provide the morning-after pill with discreet home delivery.
If time is tight, Nurx and Wisp can call a prescription into a local pharmacy for a generic Plan B. Nurx also offers overnight shipping (for an additional $15) on Ella, an alternative emergency contraceptive effective up to five days.
If you’re not in a rush, these services can ship emergency contraception with free delivery in three to five business days.
Nurx lists New Day, a generic Plan B equivalent, for as little as $0 with insurance or $20 without coverage. However, Nurx charges a $15 consultation fee regardless of insurance status.
Favor sells generic Plan B without a prescription for $15, plus a $15 consultation fee that insurance may cover.
These platforms also offer other delivered items like birth control pills, at-home pregnancy tests and condoms.
When You Need Emergency Contraception Immediately
Speed is crucial with emergency contraception.
If you need Plan B right away, your quickest option is to go to a nearby pharmacy or family planning clinic as soon as possible.
Keep in mind: Plan B and similar pills are about 61% effective if taken 48 to 72 hours after unprotected sex — and roughly 95% effective if taken within 24 hours. The sooner you take it, the better your chances.
At the store, consider a generic brand or use the $10 off coupon to cut costs without losing time.
You can locate Plan B using this retailer locator on the manufacturer’s site, which highlights stores offering curbside pickup or same-day delivery.
Emergency contraception is legal in all 50 states as of July 2022.
No prescription or ID is necessary to purchase the morning-after pill. Age or gender does not matter.
Still, finding these pills can be difficult.
Retailers nationwide have placed limits on purchases, and some pharmacies are facing supply shortages as demand increases.
To add complexity, pharmacists in six states are permitted to refuse to dispense contraception for any reason, including personal beliefs, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Even when a store has stock, the morning-after pill may be locked up or kept behind the pharmacy counter to deter theft.
If you don’t spot Plan B on the family planning aisle shelf, ask the pharmacist where it’s kept.
Samira Bennett is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for Savinly.
