Brand-name Plan B One-Step typically costs between $40 and $50 at major pharmacies, but generic versions of the same pill can run as low as $12 to $25. The price you actually pay depends on where you buy it, whether you go generic, and whether insurance or other programs help cover the cost.
Brand-Name Plan B Prices by Retailer
Plan B One-Step is available over the counter at virtually every major pharmacy and big-box store in the U.S. No prescription is needed, and there’s no age restriction. Prices vary by retailer, but most fall in a tight range. CVS, Walmart, and Target all price it around $49.99. Walgreens tends to be slightly lower, closer to $37. Amazon sells it for roughly $39. Rite Aid falls in between at about $47.
These prices can shift over time and may differ by location, so it’s worth checking your local store’s website or app before heading out. Some stores also carry their own store-brand generics on the same shelf, which are significantly cheaper.
Generic Alternatives Cost Half as Much
Generic emergency contraceptive pills contain the exact same active ingredient (levonorgestrel, 1.5 mg) in the exact same dose as Plan B One-Step. The FDA requires generics to work the same way, so the only real difference is the packaging and the price. Common generic names include Take Action, My Way, Option 2, and AfterPill.
The average retail price for a generic version is about $25, but with a pharmacy discount coupon from sites like GoodRx, you can find it for around $12. That’s less than a quarter of what some stores charge for the brand name. If cost is a concern, generics are the straightforward move.
Insurance, FSA, and HSA Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives, including emergency contraception, without cost sharing. In practice, this means your plan should cover Plan B or its generic at $0 out of pocket. The catch is that some insurers require a prescription for reimbursement even though the pill itself is available over the counter. If you want to use insurance, it may be worth calling your plan first or asking your doctor for a prescription so the purchase goes through smoothly.
Medicaid coverage for emergency contraception varies by state. Many states cover it, but some require a prescription as a condition of coverage, which adds an extra step. If you’re on Medicaid and unsure, your local pharmacy can usually check eligibility at the counter.
Plan B and its generics also qualify as eligible expenses under flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). No prescription is needed for reimbursement from these accounts. If you have money sitting in an FSA or HSA, you can use it at checkout or submit the receipt afterward.
Lower-Cost Options for Uninsured Buyers
If you don’t have insurance and the retail price is a barrier, a few options can bring the cost down. Planned Parenthood health centers offer emergency contraception on a sliding fee scale based on income, so you may pay less than retail or nothing at all. Community health centers and Title X clinics operate similarly. Online telehealth platforms like Nurx advertise prices as low as $20 without insurance and include free shipping, though delivery times vary by state. Pandia Health charges around $53 without insurance, also with free delivery.
The cheapest route for most people without insurance is simply buying a generic at a pharmacy with a GoodRx or similar discount coupon. At roughly $12, it’s hard to beat.
Why Timing Matters More Than Price
Plan B works by delaying ovulation, and its effectiveness drops sharply with every passing day. Taken within the first 24 hours, it’s about 94% effective at preventing pregnancy. By 72 hours, that number falls to roughly 58%. The pill can be taken up to three days after unprotected sex, but sooner is always better. If you’re weighing a cheaper option that takes two days to ship against a more expensive one you can pick up tonight, the in-store purchase is almost certainly the smarter choice.
For those who need a wider window, a prescription alternative called ella (ulipristal acetate) remains about 85% effective up to five days (120 hours) after sex and reaches as high as 98% within the first 24 hours. It costs around $44 through online platforms like Wisp, though it requires a quick telehealth consultation and a prescription. Ella is not available over the counter.
Effectiveness and Body Weight
Some research suggests Plan B becomes less effective in people who weigh more than 165 pounds. The findings aren’t entirely settled, as some studies show a meaningful increase in failure rates at higher body weights while others show little difference. Still, the signal is consistent enough that many providers recommend ella for people above that weight threshold, since studies suggest it holds up better across a wider range of body sizes. A copper IUD, inserted by a provider within five days, is the most effective emergency contraception regardless of weight, though it costs significantly more without insurance.
Quick Price Comparison
- Brand-name Plan B One-Step: $37 to $50 at major pharmacies
- Generic levonorgestrel (retail): about $25
- Generic with discount coupon: as low as $12
- Ella (prescription, telehealth): about $44
- With qualifying insurance: $0
- FSA/HSA: eligible, no prescription needed