The morning-after pill costs between $11 and $50, depending on whether you buy the brand name or a generic version. Brand-name Plan B One-Step typically runs $40 to $50 at most pharmacies, while generic alternatives can cost as little as $11 to $13. A prescription option called ella costs around $50 or more but may be fully covered by insurance.
Brand-Name vs. Generic Prices
Plan B One-Step is the most recognized morning-after pill, and it carries the highest price tag at $40 to $50. But the generic versions contain the exact same active ingredient at the same dose, and they cost significantly less. Generic options like Take Action and Econtra One Step have an average retail price around $25, and using a pharmacy discount coupon can bring that down to roughly $12.
All of these pills are available without a prescription and without age restrictions at major retailers including CVS, Walgreens, Target, and Amazon. You can walk in and buy one off the shelf the same way you’d buy cold medicine.
Ella: The Prescription Option
Ella works differently from Plan B and its generics. It stays equally effective for a full five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, while Plan B starts losing effectiveness after three days (72 hours). Ella is also more effective than Plan B at every time point within that window.
The tradeoff is access and cost. Ella requires a prescription, and without insurance it typically costs $50 or more at the pharmacy. With insurance, it may be completely free. If you’re past the 72-hour mark or want the most effective pill option, ella is worth the extra step of getting a prescription.
How to Get It Covered by Insurance
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are required to cover emergency contraception with no out-of-pocket cost. This applies to both the over-the-counter pills and ella, as long as you have a prescription from a provider. That’s the key detail many people miss: even though Plan B doesn’t require a prescription to buy, you still need one to run it through your insurance.
If you buy the pill off the shelf at a pharmacy or order it from a retail website like Amazon, you can’t enter insurance information and you’ll pay full price. To avoid that cost, ask your doctor or a telehealth provider to write a prescription, then fill it at a pharmacy where your insurance is on file. Plans are also required to cover prescriptions written “for advanced provision,” meaning you can get a prescription filled before you actually need the pill and keep it on hand.
Online and Telehealth Pricing
Several telehealth platforms sell emergency contraception online with free shipping, which can be useful if you want privacy or don’t have a pharmacy nearby. Prices vary quite a bit between services:
- Wisp: Generic Plan B or ella starting at $12.50, no consultation fee, free shipping.
- Twentyeight Health: Morning-after pill for $30 without insurance, plus a $26 annual membership fee, free shipping.
- Nurx: Morning-after pill starting at $45 without insurance, $28 consultation fee, free shipping.
Shipping times matter here. Emergency contraception is most effective the sooner you take it, so ordering online only makes sense if you’re stocking up in advance. If you need it now, a local pharmacy or urgent care clinic will always be faster.
Effectiveness Depends on Timing and Weight
Price isn’t the only factor worth considering. The cheaper levonorgestrel pills (Plan B and its generics) work best within the first 24 hours and become noticeably less effective after 72 hours. Ella maintains its effectiveness across the full five-day window.
Body weight also plays a role. Research reviewed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists shows that both types of morning-after pills may be less effective for people with a BMI of 25 or higher. Levonorgestrel pills appear to lose efficacy at a lower weight threshold than ella does. For people in a higher weight range, a copper IUD placed within five days is the most reliable form of emergency contraception, working equally well regardless of body size. It does require a clinic visit, but many providers can place one on short notice.
Where to Find the Lowest Price
If you’re paying out of pocket and need the pill quickly, the most affordable route is a generic levonorgestrel pill from a brick-and-mortar pharmacy. Check GoodRx or a similar coupon site before you go. A generic that retails for $25 can often be purchased for around $12 with a free coupon.
If you have insurance and a little more time, getting a prescription (even for the OTC version) lets you fill it at zero cost. Many telehealth apps can issue a prescription within minutes, and some, like Wisp, don’t charge a consultation fee. For the best combination of effectiveness and affordability with insurance, ella prescribed through a telehealth visit and filled at your regular pharmacy is often completely free.