This Company Will Mail Birth Control to You for as Little as $15/Month
Easy access to birth control is something many of us take for granted.
Unfortunately, millions of people in the U.S. (and more worldwide) go without reliable contraception.
For some, the need for discretion is an issue. People need birth control for many reasons — some obvious and some not — that may make a visit to the doctor impossible.
For others, it’s too expensive.
Or it’s simply too inconvenient to miss work or school to get to the doctor for a refill.
One company wants to change all that and put people “in control of their own healthcare.”
San Francisco-based medical company Nurx offers an easier easier way to get birth control and HIV-prevention medications with mail order access in 12 states.
Nurx accepts insurance but also works with uninsured people to provide contraception at an affordable price.
If you don’t currently have a physician, Nurx will pair you with a licensed medical provider in your state to review your medical history and write a prescription for the birth control method they think is right for you.
And it all happens right through the company’s website or smartphone app.
Nurx currently ships to:
- California
- Florida
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
If your state isn’t listed, send Nurx an email to receive an alert when the service is available in your state.
Nurx offers:
- Emergency contraception
- Combination pills
- Extended cycle pills
- Progestin-only pills (the mini-pill)
- NuvaRing
- Xulane combination patch
- PrEP HIV-prevention medication
How Nurx Works
To receive your birth control, click Get Started on the home page. Select the prescription you want, answer a few health questions and fill out your demographic information.
If you want to speak with a doctor before placing your order, Nurx will arrange a chat for you over messaging, phone or video.
Once a licensed medical provider has checked over your order, Nurx will ship the prescription right to your door.
Medical consultations and standard shipping are free.
According to Nurx’s website, the entire process takes about three to five days.
How Much Do Birth Control and PrEP Cost Through Nurx?
Nurx accepts health insurance and California Medicaid for birth control prescriptions, so most orders are free.
You can also purchase birth control without insurance starting at $15 per pack.
Insurance coverage for PrEP is a little more complex, so you’ll want to check out the website for specific information.
Is Nurx Private? And is it Safe?
Nurx says it doesn’t share your information with your primary care doctor or anyone else — including parents or spouses. If you’re covered under someone else’s insurance and want to place an order discreetly, here are some tips.
Nurx’s medical providers are licensed in your state, and prescriptions are shipped directly from a licensed pharmacy in your area.
I haven’t covered everything about Nurx here, so you’ll want to thoroughly review its website before placing an order.
If Nurx isn’t shipping to your area yet, community health clinics or agencies like Planned Parenthood might be able to help you get what you need.
Planned Parenthood, Lemonaid, PillPack and Maven have also developed apps to let you order medications right from your smartphone.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
