Medicaid covers emergency contraception, and federal law prohibits states from charging you any copay or out-of-pocket cost for family planning services. That means you can get Plan B or its equivalents at no cost through your Medicaid plan. The exact process depends on your state and whether you need a prescription first.
Why a Prescription Usually Matters
Plan B (levonorgestrel) is available over the counter at any drugstore without a prescription, regardless of age. But Medicaid is a prescription drug benefit, and most state Medicaid programs will only reimburse the pharmacy if a prescription or authorized order is on file. Without one, the pharmacy has no way to bill Medicaid, and you’d be paying the full retail price, typically $30 to $50.
The simplest route in most states: call your doctor, an urgent care clinic, or a Planned Parenthood and ask for a prescription for levonorgestrel emergency contraception. Many providers will call or electronically send the prescription directly to your pharmacy. Once it’s on file, the pharmacist can bill Medicaid and dispense it at no charge.
States Where Pharmacists Can Help Directly
Nine states let pharmacists dispense emergency contraception without a separate doctor’s prescription: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Washington. In these states, you can walk into a pharmacy, tell the pharmacist you need emergency contraception, present your Medicaid card, and leave with it. The pharmacist uses a standing order or prescriptive authority to bill Medicaid on the spot.
New York takes a similar approach. The state Medicaid program covers nonprescription Plan B directly from the pharmacy without a physician visit, and there are no age restrictions. The pharmacist documents your request and consent, then submits the claim to Medicaid or your Medicaid managed care plan.
If you’re not sure whether your state has a similar arrangement, call the pharmacy ahead of time. Ask specifically: “Can you bill Medicaid for over-the-counter emergency contraception without a prescription?” This one question will save you a wasted trip.
What to Bring to the Pharmacy
You’ll need your Medicaid card (or your managed care plan ID if your state uses managed care). If your state requires a prescription, make sure it’s already been sent to that specific pharmacy before you arrive. Time matters with emergency contraception, so calling ahead to confirm everything is in order avoids delays.
You should not be charged a copay. Federal Medicaid rules prohibit cost-sharing for family planning services. If the pharmacy tries to charge you, ask them to reprocess the claim under the family planning benefit category. If the problem persists, contact your state Medicaid office or the number on the back of your card.
Ella: A Prescription Alternative With a Longer Window
Plan B works best within 72 hours (three days) of unprotected sex, though effectiveness drops as time passes. If you’re closer to the four- or five-day mark, ask about ella (ulipristal acetate), which remains effective for up to 120 hours (five days). In pooled clinical trial data, women who took ella were about 45% less likely to become pregnant than those who took levonorgestrel.
Ella always requires a prescription because it’s not available over the counter. Since it’s an FDA-approved prescription contraceptive, Medicaid is federally required to cover it. Your provider can prescribe it during a quick visit or phone call, and many pharmacies stock it or can order it the same day.
Planned Parenthood and Community Clinics
Planned Parenthood health centers accept Medicaid and can provide emergency contraception during a visit, often without a copay. If you don’t have a regular doctor or can’t get a prescription quickly, this is one of the fastest in-person options. Call 1-800-230-7526 to find a location near you and confirm they have emergency contraception in stock.
Title X funded clinics (federally funded family planning clinics) are another option. These clinics serve low-income patients on a sliding fee scale, and if you have Medicaid, they’ll bill it directly. Many keep Plan B and ella on-site so you can leave with it the same day.
Telehealth Options
If getting to a clinic or doctor’s office quickly isn’t realistic, telehealth can get you a prescription fast. Planned Parenthood Direct, the organization’s app-based service, prescribes ella and accepts Medicaid in several states, including California (Medi-Cal), Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. You complete a short health screening, a clinician reviews it, and a prescription is sent to your pharmacy or mailed to you.
Other telehealth platforms may also accept Medicaid for contraceptive prescriptions, though coverage varies widely by state and plan. Check whether your Medicaid managed care plan has its own telehealth portal, as some plans offer virtual urgent care visits that could result in a same-day prescription.
If You Need It Right Now
Emergency contraception is most effective the sooner you take it. If you’re in a time crunch and can’t get a prescription or confirm Medicaid billing quickly, buying Plan B over the counter with your own money and seeking reimbursement later may be worth considering. Some state Medicaid programs allow retroactive reimbursement for covered drugs purchased out of pocket, though the process varies and isn’t guaranteed.
The faster option in most cases: call your Medicaid plan’s member services line (on the back of your card), explain that you need emergency contraception urgently, and ask them to help you locate a pharmacy that can process the claim today. Many plans have 24-hour nurse lines that can also facilitate a prescription.