How to get an iud without insurance

On average, Planned Parenthood finds that it costs anywhere between $500 to $1300 to get an IUD without insurance. Being one of the most effective types of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been around for over three decades in the United States. The cost of affording an IUD, especially without insurance can be relatively high.

The Cost of an IUD at Different Clinics & Locations

The net out-of-pocket cost for getting an IUD depends on a variety of factors, which makes it hard to narrow down on an exact range. Your total cost will often include a variety of services, such as a consultation visit and an ultrasound in addition to the cost of the IUD. With health insurance, most individuals can get coverage for the IUD (often the most expensive part of the treatment), and might just need to pay for the clinic visit and other additional costs. However, those without health insurance have to bear all parts of the net cost. 

Below is a comprehensive list of women’s health clinics in 5 major U.S. cities and how much they charge for an IUD insertion for patients without health insurance. The highest cost was observed to be $1,500 in New York. Meanwhile, the lowest cost was observed to be $1170 in San Jose. It is important to keep in mind that these costs may vary slightly depending on the brand of IUD used. 

Cost of an IUD in 5 Major U.S. Cities

City, StateClinic Cost of getting an IUD without insuranceWhat Is Included
New York, NYPure OBGYN $1500 
  • Cost of visit
  • Cost of IUD
  • Cost of insertion
  • Ultrasound
Chicago, ILWomen for Women OBGYN $1300 
  • Cost of IUD
  • Cost of insertion
$160
  • First consultation visit
$190 
  • Cost of insertion only

(IUD provided by the patient)

$60
  • Pap smear
Austin, TXAustin Regional Clinic

$1365

  • Cost of IUD
  • Cost of insertion
San Jose, CAFPA Women’s Health $1170 - $1250
  • Cost of IUD
  • Cost of insertion
Seattle, WAAll Women’s Care Seattle

$680 

  • Cost of a consultation visit
  • Cost of insertion
$1000
  • Cost of IUD

Additional Costs Associated with Getting an IUD

As mentioned above, getting an IUD often involves a series of steps and services. Each of these services can add up to the net cost of treatment and should be carefully considered before committing to the process. This is especially important for those without insurance. Find below a list of services associated with getting an IUD and the estimated costs without insurance. 

Additional Costs of Getting an IUD

ServicesCost without insurance
Ultrasound$100 - $1,000
Pre-insertion STD Testing $29 - $359
Pregnancy Test (over-the-counter)$8 - $15
Pap Smear$39 - $125
IUD Removal Up to $250

Consultation Visit

It is a common practice at most women’s health clinics to first call the patient in for a consultation visit with the healthcare practitioner, prior to proceeding with an IUD insertion. It is important for the healthcare practitioner to perform a bimanual examination of your vagina, cervix, and uterus. 

A bimanual examination helps determine the position of your uterus, and the depth of the cavity, as it helps ensure high placement of the IUD and minimizes the risk of perforation. The exam also helps ensure that you do not have any pelvic infections that may obstruct the insertion process. During the consultation visit, the healthcare practitioner may also determine a need for further blood tests and other examinations. The cost of a consultation visit will vary for each clinic location and the associated healthcare provider. 

Ultrasound 

An IUD insertion procedure comes with a range of risk factors. Issues such as IUD displacement, perforation, embedment, or expulsion may sometimes occur after the procedure is completed. This is why it is important that your healthcare provider performs an ultrasound of your pelvis once the insertion is completed. 

Ultrasound is among the safest and most cost-effective ways to ensure that IUD is placed accurately and in the correct position within the uterus. Most commonly, it is conducted after the insertion, however more recently, healthcare providers may use a 3-D ultrasound during the insertion procedure for better visualization. 

Blood Tests

It is recommended by the CDC that if a female patient has not been regularly tested for STDs, they should get an STD panel done before an IUD insertion. It is important to make sure that the patient is free from infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Your healthcare provider might assign you a list of blood tests on your first consultation visit. 

If you are opting for a hormonal IUD, it is important to ensure that your blood hormone levels are intact and in a healthy range. During your consultation visit, if your healthcare provider suspects that you might have cause for concern for your blood hormone levels (especially progestin), then they might administer a blood test for the same. 

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Pregnancy Test

The CDC also recommends that the patient should be tested for pregnancy prior to an IUD insertion if the provider is unsure of the patient’s pregnancy status. You might be asked to either take an over-the-counter pregnancy test in the clinic or be sent to a lab for a urine pregnancy test. It is essential to ensure that you are not pregnant at the time of your IUD insertion. Being pregnant with an IUD puts you at high risk of an ectopic pregnancy, which may lead to a medical emergency. 

Pap Smear

A Pap smear is a test usually done to detect signs of cervical cancer in women. While it is not required to get a pap smear, it is recommended that women aged 21 or more get a pap smear screening every three years. When considering getting an IUD, your healthcare provider might ask you to get a pap smear screening, especially if you have not yet gotten one. It will help your provider ensure that your cervix is free from signs of human papillomavirus. 

IUD Removal or Replacement

Lastly, depending on the type of IUD used, you will need to get yours removed and replaced after anywhere between 3 to 12 years. Every IUD has a strict expiration date, after which its ability to prevent pregnancy deteriorates. In order to continue using an IUD as a method of contraception, you will need to schedule an appointment for removal and replacement. 

Here is how long you have until your IUD is no longer effective:  

Longevity of IUD Options

Type of IUDReplace After
Paragard12 years
Mirena7 years
Liletta7 years
Kyleena5 years
Skyla3 years

Factors that Influence the Cost of an IUD

Several factors influence the cost of getting an IUD as mentioned previously. Additional considerations when getting an IUD include location and type. 

Location

Where you get your IUD insertion procedure done can significantly change how much you end up paying out of pocket. This difference is not just observed between different states, but also between different clinics within the same city. Some providers will charge a net fee for the procedure which will include the consultation, cost of the IUD, cost of insertion, as well as the cost of an ultrasound. 

However, other providers might charge you separately for the consultation, purchasing the IUD, and administering the insertion procedure. Certain providers might also be open to patients who purchase the IUD independently and bring it to the clinic only for insertion. Research conducted by Amino has found that the most expensive IUD procedures are conducted in Alaska, Wyoming, and North Dakota. The cheapest IUD procedures are conducted in the District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Arkansas. 

Type of IUD 

There are essentially two different types of IUDs categorized as hormonal and non-hormonal or copper IUDs. Hormonal IUDs include some common brands such as Mirena and Skyla. The only non-hormonal IUD that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is known as Paragard. Each of these IUDs will have a different range of costs to the patient. Consider the following list of average out-of-pocket costs for each type of IUD out-of-pocket. 

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Out-of-Pocket Cost of IUD by Type

IUD NameOut-of-Pocket Cost
Mirena$1,109
Skyla$982
LilettaUp to $934
KyleenaUp to $1,080
ParaGard$1,043

IUD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about IUDs that you may find helpful. 

Does an IUD insertion hurt? 

You may experience some pain during your IUD insertion procedure. Most women who go through this procedure express feeling minimal pain. However, it is important to note that each person has a different level of pain tolerance. Suppose you want to take precautions and avoid any pain during the procedure. In that case, you may ask your healthcare provider to administer some pain or local numbing medication before starting the procedure. It may also be helpful to have someone accompany you to your appointment in case you experience dizziness or discomfort after the procedure. 

How is a copper IUD different from a hormonal IUD? 

Copper and hormonal IUDs differ in several ways. Consider the following table for a breakdown of the differences between a copper and hormonal IUD. 

Copper IUD

Hormonal IUD

Made of copper and plastic. Made of a hormone called progestin.
Copper acts as a spermicide.  Progestin helps thicken the cervical mucus and thins the uterine lining.
Copper kills all sperms that it comes in contact with before it reaches the egg.  This prevents the sperm from reaching the egg.
Only 1 copper IUD is available in the U.S. Up to 4 different hormonal IUDs are available in the U.S.
Side effects may include bleeding, cramps, and severe menstrual pain. Side effects may include headaches, acne, weight gain, breast tenderness, mood swings, bleeding, cramping. 
Lasts up to 12 years.  Lasts between 3 to 7 years.

How much does an IUD removal cost? 

An IUD removal can cost you up to $250. This cost will vary based on the location of your clinic and your healthcare provider. If you have health insurance, it is possible that you may be able to get an IUD removal procedure done for free or at a reduced cost. 

Bottom Line

In recent years, more and more women have been choosing to use IUDs as their preferred method of contraception. For those with some form of healthcare insurance, bearing the cost of an IUD may be relatively easy. However, for those who have to bear the cost out of pocket, it can be useful to inform oneself about the various options available. 

One way to avoid high costs is by using Mira. For $45 per month, you can get access to low-cost lab testing, discounted prescriptions, affordable urgent care visits, and more. If you need a pap smear, our customer service team will help you find a location you can afford. Sign up today.

Are IUDs expensive without insurance?

Without using insurance, IUDs can be expensive, though. The cost can range between $500-$1,300. The good news is that lots of Planned Parenthood health centers offer programs to make it more affordable for people who don't have or can't use insurance.

How do you get an IUD that doesn't cover insurance?

To start, contact local clinics, hospitals and health centers, including Planned Parenthood offices, to see if you qualify for a sliding scale fee program where the cost of your IUD is tied to your income level. You may also want to check into Medicaid, which helps low-income Americans with medical costs.

How do people afford IUDs?

Getting an IUD costs anywhere between $0 to $1,300. That's a pretty wide range, but the good news is that IUDs can be free or low cost with many health insurance plans, Medicaid, and some other government programs. Prices can also vary depending on which kind you get.

Who Cannot get an IUD?

You also shouldn't get a Paragard IUD if you have a copper allergy, Wilson's Disease, or a bleeding disorder that makes it hard for your blood to clot. And you shouldn't get a hormonal IUD if you have had breast cancer. Very rarely, the size or shape of someone's uterus makes it hard to place an IUD correctly.