How much is Lo Loestrin Fe without insurance?

Is Lo Loestrin Fe covered by insurance | How much does Lo Loestrin Fe cost without insurance? | How to get Lo Loestrin Fe without insurance

Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, ferrous fumarate) is a brand-name women’s ultra-low-dose oral contraceptive with an iron supplement. It is taken once daily as a tablet to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. Ultra-low-dose birth control pills contain 20 mcg or less of ethinyl estradiol. They are usually prescribed to women who cannot take higher doses of estrogen because of risk factors for blood clots (such as smoking or high blood pressure) or who have problems with side effects. However, among even ultra-low-dose oral contraceptives, Lo Loestrin Fe is the only FDA-approved combination birth control pill that contains less than 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. There are no equivalent lower-priced brand-name or generic versions. However, women do have options for saving money on a Lo Loestrin FE prescription.

Is Lo Loestrin Fe covered by insurance?

Lo Loestrin Fe is covered by most commercial health insurance plans and Medicaid. Some Medicare Part D plans may cover a Lo Loestrin Fe prescription.

How much does Lo Loestrin Fe cost without insurance?

Women without insurance coverage will pay an average of $237 for a one-month prescription for Lo Loestrin Fe. Health insurance can reduce the cash price of the prescription but the out-of-pocket costs will depend on the insurance plan, its deductible, and how it classifies Lo Loestrin Fe in its formulary.

There are no equivalent combination birth control pills or generic versions of Lo Loestrin Fe. Women who cannot afford Lo Loestrin Fe will have to rely on a higher-dose ultra-low-dose birth control pill or switch to a progestin-only pill (mini-pill) that contains no estrogen. Other ultra-low-dose birth control pills have at least twice the dose of ethinyl estradiol—20 mcg—and most women have likely taken one or more of these alternatives before being prescribed Lo Loestrin Fe. Mini-pills containing only norethindrone are another option, but they are considered less effective at preventing pregnancy. 

There are, of course, many other reliable methods of birth control including implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), vaginal rings, transdermal shots, and, finally, barrier methods, many of which can be purchased over-the-counter.

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs. The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.

How to get Lo Loestrin Fe without insurance

Lo Loestrin Fe is a one-of-a-kind combination birth control pill because it contains 10 mcg of ethinyl estradiol in each tablet, about half the dose of other ultra-low-dose birth control pills. It’s expensive, but there are ways to save money. The manufacturer, AbbVie, does offer a patient assistance program for uninsured women, a savings program for insured women, and may offer manufacturer coupons. However, not everyone will meet the eligibility requirements for patient assistance, and manufacturer coupons may not always be available. There are other ways to find Lo Loestrin Fe savings, starting with a free coupon from SingleCare.

1. Save money with a free discount card from SingleCare

A SingleCare savings card can cut the price of a one-month supply of Lo Loestrin Fe from an average of $237 to as low as $150, a maximum savings of almost $100. Free coupons can be found on the Lo Loestrin Fe coupon page and can either be printed, downloaded, or sent to a smartphone. Ask your local pharmacist to apply your SingleCare savings to the prescription.

2. Visit a Planned Parenthood or women’s reproductive health clinic

Planned Parenthood clinics and women’s reproductive health clinics often provide free or low-cost birth control services, contraceptives, and oral contraceptives. Lo Loestrin Fe may not be on the list, but they may have similar ultra-low-dose birth control pills you may be able to take.

3. Visit a local 340B provider or public health clinic

340B providers, which include hospitals and clinics, are allowed to buy prescription medications—including oral contraceptives—at steeply discounted prices. They may not have Lo Loestrin Fe, but they may be able to provide other ultra-low-dose birth control pills for free or practically nothing. If you’re uncertain where to find 340B providers or public health clinics, talk to your local city or county’s health department.

4. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about mini-pills

Most women prescribed Lo Loestrin Fe either have taken ultra-low-dose combination birth control pills or have risk factors that make even those pills too hazardous. If they haven’t been tried yet, then ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice. They’re more affordable and may be a reasonable place to start. Chances are, however, that the only option available is to take birth control pills without estrogen, or mini-pills. They’re considered less effective at preventing pregnancy and are not suitable for people who forget to take their pills, but they are, however, an affordable alternative to Lo Loestrin Fe.

5. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other types of birth control

Don’t forget there are other alternatives to birth control pills. Some are very effective, some are less so. It’s worth getting medical advice and additional information from a healthcare professional.

7. Look for the lowest pharmacy prices

If nothing else works, look around for the best price. Retail pharmacies charge different prices for the same prescription fills. A savvy shopper could save $50 or more on a Lo Loestrin Fe simply by buying at the lowest price. 

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