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Between the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that made it legal for employers to refuse to cover birth control and the fact that 19 million people who are capable of becoming pregnant live in a contraceptive desert, there’s plenty of reason to be concerned about birth control access.

To help ease concerns, we put together a guide on how to access lower cost and cost-free birth control.

The cost of birth control depends on a variety of factors, including:

  • where you live
  • what insurance you have (if any)
  • what type of birth control you’re accessing
  • your income (there are some government assistance programs for folks on a lower income)

As a general rule, people who have insurance should expect to spend $0 to $250 total per year (between $0 and $20 per month).

Those who don’t have insurance should expect to spend $200 to $600 total per year (about $20 to $50 per month) unless they qualify for Medicaid or other government programs that cover the cost.

Your local health clinics, Planned Parenthood, and Title X clinics are locations most likely to offer free to lower cost birth control for those who aren’t insured.

Cool, so you’ve either decided that using birth control is in your best interest or are interested in learning more. But what’s the first step?

Here’s what folks with and without insurance need to know.

Local health departments

Most city and county health departments will be able to help you determine your most effective birth control methods and help you access those options.

Typically, an appointment costs $10 to $25, during which you’ll get a consultation with a physician and get a birth control prescription.

In the case of an implant, shot, or IUD, you may be able to receive birth control during that very appointment.

Find your local health department via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s online search engine. Then, call them up to find out what birth control options they offer (if any) and for what cost.

Planned Parenthood locations

Planned Parenthood clinics accept Medicaid and most health insurance plans.

And if you don’t have insurance? Don’t worry. These clinics will often provide a discount on birth control, depending on income.

Find a Planned Parenthood clinic near you here. (FYI: They offer IRL and URL appointments!)

Nonprofit organizations

There are a number of nonprofit organizations that offer free and lower cost birth control options for all folks regardless of their insurance situation.

To find one near you, try Googling “lower cost birth control near me” or “Title X family planning clinic in [insert your city here].”

College and university health centers

Many colleges and universities offer lower cost birth control options for their students. (Yes, including students without insurance.)

To find out if your school’s health center does, ring them up and ask.

LGBTQIA+ centers

Many cities have LGBTQIA+ centers that offer family planning services. Others don’t offer those services themselves but keep a directory of local LGBTQIA+ friendly providers that do.

Find your local LGBTQIA+ center using the CenterLink LGBTQ Community Center Member Directory. Enter your location, find the community center nearest you, and call them up to ask about birth control services.

Maybe your local Planned Parenthood is only open the hours you’re working. Or maybe you don’t feel comfortable going to a doctor’s office.

As long as you have access to the internet (think: on your phone or at a public library) and either a mailing address or access to a pharmacy, you can take advantage of telemedicine.

Your local Walmart likely offers lower cost birth control.

Now you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that regardless of your current insurance sitch — or lack thereof — there are free and lower cost birth control options for you.

Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a queer sex educator and wellness journalist who is committed to helping people feel the best they can in their bodies. In addition to Healthline, her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Health, Self, Women’s Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called Bad In Bed. Follow her on Instagram @Gabriellekassel.