Plan B One-Step, the brand-name morning-after pill, typically costs between $40 and $50 at most pharmacies. Generic versions containing the same active ingredient are significantly cheaper, often running $10 to $25. Where you buy it, whether you choose the brand name or a generic, and whether you have insurance all affect what you’ll actually pay.
Brand-Name Prices by Retailer
Plan B One-Step is the most recognized emergency contraception brand, and its price varies noticeably depending on where you shop. At CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, you can expect to pay around $47 to $50. Target typically prices it around $47 as well. Walmart tends to be the cheapest brick-and-mortar option at roughly $37, and Amazon often matches or beats that price at around $39.
These prices reflect what you’d pay without insurance or coupons. The manufacturer does offer a coupon through its website, though the specific discount amount isn’t always listed and can change without notice.
Generic Versions Cost Much Less
Generic emergency contraception pills contain the exact same dose of the same active ingredient as Plan B. Common generic names include Take Action, My Way, and Econtra One Step. The average retail price for a generic version runs about $25, but using a pharmacy discount coupon (like those from GoodRx) can bring that down to around $12, and sometimes as low as $8 with a paid membership discount.
There is no medical difference between the brand-name and generic versions. They all contain 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel and work the same way. If cost is a factor, the generic is the straightforward choice.
Does Insurance Cover It?
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost sharing, and that includes emergency contraception. In practice, though, whether you can get it covered without a prescription varies by plan. Some insurers will reimburse you for an over-the-counter purchase if you submit a receipt, while others only cover it with a prescription from a provider. Calling your insurance company or checking your plan documents is the fastest way to find out.
If you’re uninsured, clinics like Planned Parenthood offer sliding-scale pricing based on income. They work within your budget and can sometimes connect you with state or local programs that help cover the cost of birth control and related care.
The Prescription Alternative: Ella
Ella is a different type of morning-after pill that requires a prescription. It costs about $50 or more at a pharmacy, but it’s usually free with insurance since the prescription requirement makes coverage more straightforward. Ordering ella online, which includes a virtual consultation and overnight shipping, runs about $90.
Ella is more effective than Plan B at every time point within the five-day window after unprotected sex. Plan B works best within the first 72 hours and drops off significantly after that, while ella maintains stronger effectiveness through the full 120 hours. Ella also works better for people at higher body weights (more on that below). If you’re within the first 24 hours and weigh under 165 pounds, both options work well, but ella has the edge the longer you wait.
Weight Affects How Well It Works
This is one of the most important details that price alone doesn’t capture. Plan B and its generics start losing effectiveness if you weigh more than 165 pounds. For ella, that threshold is higher, around 195 pounds. Neither product’s packaging makes this especially prominent, but Planned Parenthood and multiple clinical sources confirm these cutoffs.
If you’re above 165 pounds, paying more for ella or choosing a copper IUD (which works as emergency contraception regardless of weight when placed within five days) could be a better use of your money than buying Plan B at any price.
Buying It in Advance
Plan B and its generics are available over the counter with no age restriction and no ID requirement. You can buy them off the shelf at any pharmacy, and keeping one on hand is a reasonable option. The shelf life is four years from the manufacture date, with the exact expiration printed on the box. If you’re buying one to store, ask the pharmacist for the box with the furthest expiration date.
Buying a generic in advance for $12 to $25 means you’ll have it immediately if you need it, which matters because the pill works best the sooner you take it. Waiting even a few hours to find the cheapest option or drive to a specific store could reduce its effectiveness.
Cheapest Ways to Get Emergency Contraception
- Generic with a pharmacy coupon: $8 to $13 at most chain pharmacies
- Generic at retail price: $20 to $25
- Brand-name Plan B at Walmart or Amazon: $37 to $39
- Brand-name Plan B at most pharmacies: $47 to $50
- Ella with insurance: typically free
- Ella without insurance: $50+ at a pharmacy, $90 online with consultation
If you have insurance, getting a prescription for either option (even though Plan B doesn’t technically require one) can make it free. Some people ask their provider for a prescription specifically to trigger insurance coverage on the over-the-counter product.