A birth control implant (Nexplanon) typically costs between $400 and $1,300 out of pocket without insurance, depending on where you go and what’s included in that price. The wide range reflects differences in how clinics bundle the device itself, the insertion procedure, and required office visits.
What the Total Cost Includes
The sticker price you see isn’t just for the tiny rod that goes in your arm. There are several separate charges that add up to your final bill.
The device and insertion together generally run $400 to $800 at many clinics. But that range doesn’t always include the office visit or pre-insertion requirements. A birth control visit alone costs $100 to $125 at Planned Parenthood locations, and a $20 pregnancy test fee may apply before insertion. Some clinics roll everything into one price, which is why you’ll see quotes as high as $1,300 at certain Planned Parenthood locations for the complete package.
Before you compare prices, ask each clinic exactly what their quoted number covers: the device, the insertion procedure, the office visit, and any required testing. A lower quote that excludes the visit and pregnancy test may end up costing the same as a higher all-inclusive price.
How It Breaks Down Per Year
Nexplanon is now FDA-approved to last up to five years, which changes the math significantly. Even at the high end of $1,300, that works out to $260 per year, or roughly $22 per month. At the lower end of $400, you’re looking at $80 per year for highly effective contraception.
For comparison, birth control pills without insurance typically cost $20 to $50 per month, adding up to $240 to $600 per year. Over five years, pills could cost $1,200 to $3,000 total. The implant’s upfront cost is higher, but the long-term savings are real, especially since there are no monthly refills or pharmacy trips.
Removal Adds to the Lifetime Cost
When the implant needs to come out, whether at five years or sooner, removal costs $0 to $300 without insurance. The $0 end of that range reflects sliding-scale pricing at community health centers and Title X clinics that serve low-income patients. A standard clinic visit for removal typically falls somewhere in the middle of that range.
If you’re replacing an old implant with a new one at the same appointment, you’ll pay for both the removal and a new device plus insertion. Ask whether the clinic offers any bundled pricing for same-visit replacement, since you may be able to save on the office visit portion.
Ways to Lower the Cost
Organon, the company that makes Nexplanon, runs a Patient Assistance Program that provides the device free of charge to people who qualify. Eligibility is based on not having insurance or having insurance that doesn’t cover the product. This is separate from their coupon program, which only applies to privately insured patients. You can check eligibility through the Organon Access Program or by calling the number on the Nexplanon website.
Title X-funded clinics, including many Planned Parenthood locations and community health centers, offer contraception on a sliding fee scale based on income. If you earn below a certain threshold, you may pay little or nothing. These clinics are specifically funded to ensure cost isn’t a barrier to birth control access.
Some states also have family planning programs through Medicaid that cover contraception even for people who don’t qualify for full Medicaid benefits. Eligibility varies by state, but it’s worth checking your state’s Medicaid website or calling a local clinic to ask.
Why the Implant Costs What It Does
Nexplanon is a single-source brand-name product with no generic version available, which keeps the device price high. The insertion itself is a quick in-office procedure that takes only a few minutes, but it requires a trained provider and a specially designed applicator. The combination of a patented device and a medical procedure is what drives the cost above other birth control methods at the point of purchase.
What you get for that cost is the most effective reversible contraceptive available. In clinical trials covering more than 70,000 cycles of use, zero pregnancies occurred. That’s a failure rate of essentially 0%, which is better than the pill, the shot, the patch, and even IUDs. And because the implant doesn’t depend on you remembering to do anything after insertion, there’s no gap between “perfect use” and “typical use” effectiveness. It works at the same rate regardless of daily habits.
Comparing Prices Before You Go
Prices vary enough from clinic to clinic that it’s worth calling two or three places before scheduling. Community health centers, Planned Parenthood locations, and university-affiliated women’s health clinics tend to offer the most competitive pricing for uninsured patients. Private OB-GYN offices generally charge more, though some will match or come close to clinic pricing if you ask about self-pay rates.
When you call, ask for the total out-of-pocket cost including the device, insertion, office visit, and any required testing. Ask whether they offer payment plans, since some clinics let you split the cost over several months. And ask whether they participate in any assistance programs that could reduce your cost based on income.