When you take birth control, you allow yourself by taking responsibility for your body and your life. Your capability to prevent annoying pregnancies doesn’t have to be limited by how much money you make. You can get free contraception if you ask the right questions and know where to go. It doesn’t matter if you are insured, not insured, have Medicaid, or if you are a teenager who prefers not to let your parents know about it.

Using all available resources

Use condoms as a form of birth control. 

You don’t need a doctor’s prescription. Condoms are easy and free to get from clinics such as Family Planning.

• Clinics such as Planned Parenting and your local health department feel a need for privacy, especially if you are a teenager who doesn’t want your parents to know that you are thinking about using birth control.
• Condoms are an effective form of birth control and prevent pregnancy 98% of the time if used correctly every time. However, they are rarely utilized ideally, and 21% of women experience pregnancy in their first year of use. Condoms effectively prevent sexual transmission of HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as herpes or chlamydia, when used consistently and correctly. This type of birth control requires a responsible partner who can help you prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

Call your local health department. 

The services offered by a clinic affiliated with your local health department will depend on where you live. This is a good place to find out about your options for getting free birth control.

• Some of the clinics will offer you contraception at a discounted price. Other clinics can help you apply for programs that allow you to receive free health care, such as family planning and birth control. Once you are accepted into the program, you can get free birth control at the clinic. The healthcare professionals at the clinic will tell you which methods are available for free.

Go to your local clinic. 

Staff working at a sexual health clinic like Planned Parenthood, a local free clinic, or a teen health clinic can help you get birth control for free.

• You may have access to a wide range of contraceptive methods, such as a pill, a patch, an intrauterine device (IUD), or a diaphragm. It depends on the clinic you go to and the state you live in. You can call your local health department about your health.
• There are many programs to help you get birth control for free, but you must register to take advantage of the benefits. Adults will need to see what the income requirements are, and most minors under the age of 18 will be eligible. Your clinic staff is always ready to help you with this process.
• In most states, adolescents can consent to contraception themselves and do not need parental consent.
• If you are a college or university student, visit your health center. These centers often offer free condoms and sometimes even offer free birth control pills.

Apply for a family planning benefits plan. 

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came into effect in 2010, some states have gained access to funds that would enable them to provide free family planning services and supplies to certain individuals. This plan includes birth control for both women and men.

• This is a good option if you don’t have insurance, have limited income, or have Medicaid. There is no age limit. Each state is different depending on what services the plan offers. In general, this option gives you access to various methods of birth control, such as an intrauterine device (IUD), a diaphragm, or tube snapping. But it seems that over-the-counter methods like spermicides and sponge are less commonly considered.
• Unlike private insurance, your partner may be covered to have a vasectomy. This surgical procedure involves cutting and ligating the vas deferens to prevent sperm from flowing out during intercourse.

Try to get free samples. 

Pharmaceutical companies love giving free samples of drugs to healthcare professionals to help promote their products. Your health care provider can provide you free samples if you tell her you are having trouble paying birth control.

• It doesn’t hurt to seek help wherever you receive medical attention. You can talk to your doctor at the office or clinic. If you have a medical center at your school, university, or college, talk to someone there. Your school counselor may not have access to birth control, but her advice may direct you to the right place to get free birth control.
• You will not be able to get unlimited free samples. Look for other ways to get free birth control.

Source Credit: Wikihow