“How much does an IUD cost?”
You ask. Tia answers. #TiaTalkTuesday
Choosing the right birth control for your individual needs is a delicate balancing act of priorities and tradeoffs:
Hormones vs. no hormones?
Regular periods vs. light or no periods?
Daily vs. non-daily?
And then there’s the big elephant in the room…
💰💰💰
This #TiaTalkTuesday, we’re partnering with our friends at Amino to answer the question all birth control-using humans in America have been askin’ UP THE WAZOO since the election:
Remind me, what’s the deal with IUDs again?
An IUD is a small “T-shaped” device made of plastic that’s inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It sorta looks like this:
Except shrunken down to the size of a paper clip :)
More than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, IUDs are 🔥 🔥 🔥 for a multitude of reasons:
First and foremost, they are a “set it and forget” birth control method, meaning that once you get it inserted, you’ve got nothing to do (AKA no more freak-outs from forgetting your BC pills).
Second, they can last from three to ten years depending on the type of IUD you get (though you can always get it removed at any time for any reason).
And lastly, you can choose between a non-hormonal IUD called the “Paragard” (yes, you heard me correct… no hormones!!!), and from four different progestin-only IUDs — Mirena, Skyla, Liletta & Kyleena —which are a great choice if estrogen isn’t your jam, but you still want some benefits of hormones like lighter periods & protection against uterine cancer 👊🏿 👊🏽 👊.
For more deets on how to pick the IUD that’s right for you, #AskTia for a personalized BC recommendation in the app!
What about that price tag?
Like most things in healthcare, the answer to how much an IUD costs is more complex than what meets the 👁. While the total cost of an IUD can range from $983 to $1,111 depending on what type of IUD you get, the out-of-pocket cost to you and your wallet is usually far less than that.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate, which requires insurance plans to cover the full cost of IUDs, 9 out of 10 women in the U.S. currently pay a big, whoppin’ ZERO DOLLARS out-of-pocket for their IUD.
And if you don’t have insurance, you still may be able to get an IUD for $0 at a women’s health clinic like a Planned Parenthood, depending on your income and the state you live in.
What about that healthcare bill?
While only a superhuman can stay on top of every iteration of healthcare bill in Washington, here’s the hot-off-the-press update:
As of last week, the latest attempt to “repeal and replace” Obamacare effort was given the big 👎 👎 👎 which means your BC coverage is still in full force… for now.
With that weight lifted off your chest for the time being, here are five #TiaTips to help you get the biggest bang for your buck when you’re shoppin’ for an IUD:
#1: Make sure the doctor who will be inserting your IUD is on your insurance company’s list of “in-network” providers.
Be warned — if you go to an “out-of-network” doctor, you may have to pay the full cost!
#2: While the ACA guarantees the coverage of your IUD, you may have to pay for related medical charges like the office visit, pelvic exam, or follow-up visits.
These costs can be anywhere from $0 to a few hundred dollars.
#3: Some insurance plans only cover certain types of IUDs.
For example, your insurance provider might pay for Mirena but not Kyleena or Liletta… so, pick ’em wisely!
#4: Make sure to keep track of when you get your IUD inserted so you remember to get it removed or replaced on time.
My BC reminders can help with that! 😍
#5: Lastly, use Amino to get a personalized IUD cost estimate based on your insurance, location, and doctor:
This DREAM tool of all tools will prevent your face from doing this when you get that surprise insurance bill in the mail:
Happy #TiaTalkTuesday ✌️
Confidently yours,
Tia
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Tia is a personal, private chat-based assistant that you message with about birth control and sexual health. We work with Amino to power provider recommendations in our app and help our users navigate the cost of care.
Have a burning question you want us to tackle? Leave it in the comments below or email info@asktia.com
