The pill was approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use last July.
March 4, 2024, 10:57 am ET
• 4 min reading
Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill that can be purchased without a prescription, will be available online and in pharmacies later this month for $19.99 per month, $49.99 for a three-month supply, or $89.99 for a six-month supply will be available, its parent company Perrigo said Monday.
Opill is considered a potential game-changer for access to contraception because it eliminates the step of finding a doctor to write a prescription, which can be costly or burdensome depending on where the woman lives and her health insurance coverage.
The drug has been on the market as a prescription contraceptive for 50 years and was deemed safe and effective for over-the-counter use by the Food and Drug Administration in July.
It is expected to be available at major retailers such as CVS and Walgreens nationwide in the coming weeks and can also be ordered directly through Opill's website. Pre-orders begin this week at select retailers.
However, the cost of Opill will play a big role in accessibility.
Opill is a daily oral contraceptive.Opill
Most insurance plans are required to cover prescription contraception under the Affordable Care Act, but laws governing contraception without a prescription vary from state to state – which is uncharted territory.
Those who are uninsured or do not want to use their insurance for privacy reasons will have to pay the cost of $15 to $20 per month out of their own pocket, depending on which monthly care plan they purchase.
According to a November 2022 KFF survey, about 39% of women would be willing to pay $1 to $10 for contraception, but that number drops for those willing to pay $11 to $20 per month slightly to 34%.
About one in 10 women – 11% – said they were unwilling or unable to pay for over-the-counter birth control pills.
Opill said it would make a cost assistance program available in the coming weeks to “help qualified, uninsured, low-income individuals receive Opill at little or no cost.”