Birth control bargains

Oral contraceptives are expensive, especially if your insurance plan doesn’t cover them. Here are some suggestions to reduce your cost.

Ask your ob-gyn.

Doctors usually have extra samples lying around their office. Take a few packs at your next visit.

Go generic.

Knockoff pills cost less than brand name ones while offering the same protection.

Buy in bulk.

Purchase up to three packs for just one co-pay using a mail-order prescription program.

Use your flexible spending account.

Check to see if your employer offers an FSA, which allows you to set aside pretax dollars from your paycheck to pay for medical expenses like prescriptions.

Visit Planned Parenthood.

The center provides health services at the lowest possible cost and scales fees according to income.

Check with your health insurance provider again,

even if you already have. More and more health plans are starting to cover oral contraceptives, so your provider may have jumped on board.