Is birth control covered? Is it free?

Under the Affordable Care Act, birth control is free on all qualified health plans. All the plans on Stride meet this requirement!

All health plans must cover one method from each of the 18 FDA approved birth control categories at no out-of-pocket cost. Stride recommends calling your insurance company to see which method is covered in each category when necessary.

These categories are:

• Sterilization surgery
• Surgical sterilization implant
• Implantable rod
• Copper intrauterine device
• IUDs with progestin (a hormone)
• Shot/injection
• Oral contraceptives (the pill), with estrogen and progestin
• Oral contraceptives with progestin only
• Oral contraceptives, known as extended or continuous use that delay menstruation
• The patch
• Vaginal contraceptive ring
• Diaphragm
• Sponge
• Cervical cap
• Female condom
• Spermicide
• Emergency contraception (Plan B/morning-after pill)
• Emergency contraception (a different pill called Ella)

Note: Birth control specific brands will be covered if there is no generic form available, ie Nuvaring.

What else should I know? 

• Plans are not required to cover male forms of birth control such as vasectomies and male condoms.
• Houses of worship, grandfathered plans, and short term medical plans do not have to provide coverage
• Other prescriptions would be subject to a plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance rates.