Birth control is a form of protection against unplanned pregnancy. It would also help in spacing your children and family planning. Among the birth control methods, IUD or the intrauterine device is said to have the best effectivity with a failure rate of less than 1%. It is a prescription only birth control method that is growing in popularity because it is low maintenance, reversible, has long-term effectivity, and can be hormone-free.

For women, this means a lot. Some birth control methods require them to stick to a specific schedule of taking the pill or take capsules that mess with their hormones thereby affecting their moods and feelings.

The IUD is quite expensive compared to other birth control methods. But the Affordable Care Act made it possible for millions of women to have access to free IUD through their company’s health care benefits.

But what if employers would not include this benefit anymore? And how about for those women who want to avail of this birth control method but do not have any insurance coverage? How much would it cost them to get an IUD without insurance?

Average Cost of IUD Without Insurance

The IUD insurance could be free since there are many health insurance plans that have full coverage for IUD. Medicaid and government health services can also offer IUD for a low cost. For those without insurance, however, they have to consider the healthcare facility, type of IUD, and location where they will avail of the IUD.

We consulted different price comparison drug search engines, such as Drugs.com and GoodRx. We found out that the average is between $728 and $1,659.

The price of the hormonal IUD Mirena ranges from $900 to $1,252. Skyla costs between $736 and $797. Liletta, another hormonal IUD, can be bought for a price of between $728 and $751. The Kyleena IUD ranges from $895 to $1,659. Lastly, the non-hormonal IUD ParaGard costs between $786 and $965.

Additional Costs

If you do not have any insurance, you have to consider the medical examinations, consultations, product administration and removal, and other fees as additional expenses.  The average expenses for these visits is between $150 and $250 depending on the healthcare provider and type of service.

Shopping for IUD

IUDs are available by prescription only. Those who prefer this birth control method must consult their healthcare providers for important safety information necessary before making any decision. IUDs are also available from your healthcare provider and other clinics.

Planned Parenthood health centers offer consultations for the right birth control method for you. They also have programs to make IUDs more affordable to people who do not have insurance. You can also check the websites of the IUD manufacturers or confirm availability in the pharmacies in your area.

Factors Affecting Cost of IUD

• Financial status – Certain healthcare providers offer IUDs at a lower cost when they consider the financial status of the patients. Users from low-income families can avail of a discount if they pass the eligibility requirements.
• Location – For example, Skyla can be as low as $717 in California but the same can be as high as $772 in Texas. If you will be the one to buy the IUD in a pharmacy, it is best to compare the prices in different pharmacies in your area to be able to get the best deal.
• Healthcare provider – Since your healthcare provider has to be the one to insert and remove the IUD inside your body, the rate for their services will also affect the total cost of getting an IUD.
• Type of IUD you will avail of – There are two types of IUDs – hormonal and non-hormonal. Hormonal IUDs are made of plastic. When inserted into a woman’s cervix, this type of IUD releases a synthetic hormone called progestin which causes the cervical mucus to thicken and prevents the sperm from reaching the uterus to avoid pregnancy. This protection can last between three and six years. Hormonal IUDs that are available in the market are Mirena, Skyla, Kyleena, and Lilette. The non-hormonal IUD is also made of plastic but it has a small amount of copper. This type of IUD can offer protection for up to 12 years. The only non-hormonal IUD available in the U.S. is Paragard.

The IUD cost of insurance has to factor in the coverage of their policy. Some policies offer full coverage but there are insurance plans that have limited coverage to the treatments can be availed.

Users have to consider the duration or length of effectivity of the device when checking the prices of the IUD. Liletta, which is the least expensive among the 5 IUDs, needs to be replaced every 3 years while ParaGard, the third most expensive IUD, can last up to 12 years. Most importantly, patients have to consult their healthcare provider to choose the birth control method that is suited for their bodies.

 

Additional Information

Some healthcare providers offer payment options for those who cannot afford to pay the cost of IUD upfront. They can schedule a payment in installments to make it easier on the budget.  Just consult your healthcare provider regarding their payment schemes so that you can decide which will suit your budget.

Women who consider getting an IUD as a birth control method can look at the expenses as an investment. The initial out of pocket expenses can be tough on the budget but when you consider the long-lasting result and effectivity of the IUD, you may find that it is worth it in the end.