Birth Control & Family Planning
Free and Low-Cost Birth Control in New York: Coverage and Clinics
Most New Yorkers can get birth control for free or close to it. New York Medicaid, the Essential Plan and most state-regulated private insurance plans cover FDA-approved contraception with no copay. If you're uninsured, publicly funded family planning clinics charge on a sliding scale based on income, and they can help you sign up for coverage.
Find your situation
| Your situation | Where to start | What you'll likely pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private insurance through work or the marketplace | Your OB/GYN, primary care clinician or a pharmacy | Usually $0 |
| Medicaid or Essential Plan | Any provider in your plan's network | $0 |
| Income too high for Medicaid, no insurance | Family planning clinic; ask about the Family Planning Benefit Program | Often free or low cost |
| Uninsured, any immigration status | Family planning clinic, community health center, NYC Health + Hospitals | Sliding scale |
| Teen who wants privacy | Family planning clinic | Often free; confidential |
| Just need condoms or Opill | Pharmacy, grocery store, NYC Health Department giveaways | Low or free |
If you have private insurance
New York's Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act requires state-regulated health plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost sharing. It also requires coverage of:
- Up to a 12-month supply of prescribed contraception dispensed at once
- Emergency contraception without cost sharing
- Voluntary sterilization and related services like counseling and follow-up
The federal Affordable Care Act also requires most non-grandfathered plans to cover at least one form of each FDA-approved method without cost sharing.
The catch people run into: self-funded employer plans, common at large companies, follow federal law instead of New York law. They have to follow ACA rules but may not cover every brand or a 12-month supply. If your card or HR paperwork mentions "self-funded" or "ASO," call member services before you assume.
If you have Medicaid or the Essential Plan
- New York Medicaid covers family planning services, including every type of birth control, IUD and implant placement and removal, emergency contraception and sterilization.
- The Essential Plan, New York's low-cost plan for people who don't qualify for Medicaid, covers contraception.
- Postpartum Medicaid in New York now continues for 12 months after pregnancy ends, which includes family planning care. That's a good window to get an IUD or implant at no cost.
Browse providers who take Medicaid or the Essential Plan.
If your income is a little too high for Medicaid
The Family Planning Benefit Program (FPBP) is a New York Medicaid program for people whose income is above full Medicaid limits but within the program's limits. It covers family planning services, including birth control. Many clinics will help you apply on the spot. Check current income limits with the NY State Department of Health or the clinic.
Where to actually go
Family planning clinics
The New York State Department of Health's Family Planning Program and the federal Title X program fund clinics that provide confidential contraception, STI testing and related care. They typically charge based on income and serve people whether or not they have insurance. Ask when you call: "Do you have a sliding scale?" and "Can I get an IUD or implant the same day?"
Pharmacies
Under a 2024 statewide standing order, participating New York pharmacists can dispense the pill, patch or ring without a prescription and bill your insurance. You fill out a short health questionnaire at the counter. Not every pharmacy participates, so call first. More in our guide to getting birth control from a New York pharmacist.
Over the counter
Condoms, Opill (the progestin-only pill) and levonorgestrel emergency contraception are sold without a prescription. You'll usually pay out of pocket unless your plan reimburses.
For teens
Minors in New York can consent to their own birth control, and family planning clinics offer confidential services for teens.
The privacy trap: if you're on a parent's insurance, an explanation of benefits (EOB) may be mailed to the policyholder. Ask the clinic or plan about confidentiality protections, or use a clinic that can see you without billing your parent's plan.
For immigrants and people without insurance
Publicly funded family planning clinics serve patients regardless of immigration status. In New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals sees uninsured patients, including through its NYC Care program for residents who don't qualify for insurance. Ask for financial counseling when you call.
Which method gives the most for the money?
IUDs and the implant cost more upfront but are usually covered in full by insurance and Medicaid, and they last for years. Over time they're often both the lowest-cost and most effective options. The copper IUD, hormonal IUDs, the implant and the shot are all covered by New York Medicaid and by state-regulated private plans. Compare every method in our birth control options guide.
How to get a 12-month supply
A year of pills, patches or rings on hand means fewer pharmacy runs and fewer gaps, which is when most unplanned pregnancies happen.
- Ask your clinician to write the prescription for a 12-month supply.
- Ask your pharmacy to bill your plan for the full amount at once.
- If the pharmacy says your plan won't cover it, ask whether your plan is state-regulated or self-funded.
- If your plan is state-regulated and still refuses, contact the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Pharmacists sometimes default to a 30- or 90-day fill out of habit. Asking specifically for the 12-month supply often fixes it.
If your plan says no
If your plan denies a method your clinician says is medically necessary:
- Ask your clinician to submit a request or exception.
- File an appeal with your plan.
- If your plan is state-regulated, contact the New York State Department of Financial Services for help with a complaint or external appeal.
About condoms
Condoms are cheap at pharmacies and grocery stores, and many health departments and clinics give them away. In New York City, the Health Department distributes free condoms at many community locations. They're the only method that also lowers STI risk, so they're worth using alongside another method if you could be at risk.
When to see a doctor
See a clinician to start any method that needs a prescription or procedure, and if you:
- Have a health condition that may limit your options, such as migraine with aura, high blood pressure or a history of blood clots
- Have side effects that affect your daily life
- Need emergency contraception that requires a prescription, or a copper IUD
- Are due for STI testing or cervical cancer screening
Your next step
Find OB/GYNs and nurse practitioners who take your insurance, or search the directory by location across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. Have your insurance card in hand when you call.
Frequently asked questions
Is birth control free with insurance in New York?
Usually. New York Medicaid covers contraception, and New York's Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act requires state-regulated private plans to cover FDA-approved contraception without a copay. Some employer plans regulated by federal law follow different rules.
Can I get a 12-month supply of birth control in New York?
New York law requires state-regulated plans to cover up to a 12-month supply of prescribed contraception dispensed at once. Ask your pharmacist to fill a 12-month supply.
Can teens get birth control without their parents in New York?
Yes. According to the New York Attorney General's office, minors do not need a parent's permission to get birth control or other reproductive health services.
Where can I get birth control if I don't have insurance in New York?
Publicly funded family planning clinics offer services on a sliding scale based on income, and may help you enroll in Medicaid or the Family Planning Benefit Program. Community health centers are another option.
Sources
- New York State Department of Health — Family Planning Program
- New York State Department of Health — Family Planning Benefit Program (Medicaid)
- New York State Department of Financial Services — Contraceptive coverage requirements
- New York State Attorney General — How New York Protects Your Right to Reproductive Health Care
- HHS Office of Population Affairs — Title X Family Planning Program
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.