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Optum Store is a telemedicine service that allows you to order birth control online. In addition to contraception options, Optum Store also offers virtual consultations and prescriptions for other medications.
Online birth control services like Optum have made contraception more accessible for many people. Buying birth control online can be more convenient (and often cheaper) than visiting a healthcare clinic in person, especially for those who live in contraception deserts — areas where there’s little access to health clinics that offer birth control.
While telemedicine services aren’t designed to replace regular physical exams with your doctor, they might be useful in between appointments.
The Optum Store is a part of the Optum brand. Optum Store is both a pharmacy benefit manager and healthcare service.
The Optum Store provides telemedicine service. Through Optum Store, you can meet virtually with healthcare professionals who can offer you advice or prescribe medication. You can also purchase prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, and other health products through the Optum Store.
Optum Store is something like a virtual pharmacy, offering a wide variety of services and products.
In addition to contraception, Optum Store offers:
- virtual consultations with doctors
- mental health support (therapy and medication)
- affordable insulin treatment, starting at $35 a month
- treatment for erectile dysfunction and hair loss
- common prescription medications
- personal care items
- at-home tests
- supplements
Optum Store has a number of health savings account (HSA)– and flexible savings account (FSA)-eligible products.
Optum Store offers a variety of birth control options, including:
- oral contraceptives, or birth control pills
- contraceptive patches
- contraceptive rings
- vaginal contraceptive gel
Optum Store carries more than 32 brands of birth control.
We only include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a tangible benefit. Optum Store and Healthline are owned by RVO Health. Here’s our process for selecting and vetting products.
The pricing of Optum birth control is competitive with other telemedicine services:
- Oral contraceptives start at $10 per month for a 6-month supply.
- Contraceptive patches start at $125 per month.
- Contraceptive rings start at $175 per month.
- Contraceptive gel starts at $103 per month.
Virtual consultations via Optum Store are usually $55, but when seeking a birth control prescription, the first consult is free. Subsequent consults are $15.
Optum Store offers free standard shipping on birth control to most of the United States. However, if you’re shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, you’ll be charged a flat fee of $19.99.
To get birth control through Optum Store, you’ll need to do the following:
- Complete the questionnaire, which includes questions about your medical history, and upload your photo ID.
- Choose the medication you want and check out. You can opt for a 90-day supply or 180-day supply.
- One of Optum’s doctors will assess your answers to ensure that the medication you chose is right and safe for you. You’ll usually get a response within 2 business days.
- Once your treatment plan is finalized, your medications will be delivered within 5 business days, if you opt for free standard shipping.
- When your supply is gone, you can get an auto-refill for as little as $10 per month.
Nurx
- Price: starts at $15 per month
- Initial consultation: $15
- Types of birth control offered: the pill, the patch, the ring, the shot, emergency contraception
- Accepts insurance: yes
- Delivery: free, delivery within 5 business days
Nurx is a popular telemedicine company that offers birth control. Unlike Optum, they offer emergency contraception as well as the birth control shot. They also have medication and services for other common health concerns like UTIs and allergies.
Lemonaid Health
- Price: starts at $15 per month
- Initial consultation: $25
- Types of birth control offered: the pill, the ring, the patch, emergency contraception
- Accepts insurance: no
- Delivery: free, delivery within 5 business days
Lemonaid Health is a popular telemedicine service that offers birth control options and treatments for mental health conditions, skin concerns, and more. Lemonaid Health’s contraception options are more limited than Optum, but the service does offer emergency contraception.
SimpleHealth
- Price: starts at $15 per month
- Initial consultation: $20
- Types of birth control offered: the pill, the patch, the ring
- Accepts insurance: yes
- Delivery: free
SimpleHealth is a telemedicine service that offers birth control options, supplements, perimenopause support, and fertility support. SimpleHealth does require a yearly fee of $20, but this covers a doctor’s consultation, access to an on-call care team, and free shipping.
Hers
- Price: starts at $12 per month
- Initial consultation: free
- Types of birth control offered: the pill
- Accepts insurance: no
- Delivery: free
Another popular affordable online birth control service is Hers. In addition to contraception, Hers offers supplements, consultations, and medications for the cold and flu, skin conditions, allergies, mental health conditions, and infections.
One drawback is that Hers’ only birth control option is the pill — although the company does carry many brands.
| Price | Initial consultation | Types of birth control offered | Accepts insurance | Delivery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optum Store | varies, starts at $10 per month | free | pill, patch, ring, gel | no | free, $19.99 if shipping to Alaska or Hawaii |
| Nurx | $15 per month | $15 | pill, patch, ring, shot, emergency contraception | yes | free, within 5 business days |
| Lemonaid | $15 per month | $25 | pill, patch, ring, emergency contraception | no | free, within 5 business days |
| SimpleHealth | $15 per month | $20 | pill, patch, ring | yes | free |
| Hers | $12 per month | free | pill | no | free |
Customer reviews for Optum are mixed. While there are a few positive testimonials about the Optum Store, there are also some concerning complaints about Optum, the parent brand.
At time of publishing, Optum had an average of 1.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. The majority of negative comments are related to Optum Rx and not necessarily the Optum Store, but because both services are a part of the same brand, it’s worth noting these complaints.
Negative reviews are mostly about:
- issues with billing
- difficulties with customer care
- customers not receiving the medication they ordered
Positive reviews compliment the speedy service and affordable prices.
Although telemedicine services can help you with many day-to-day medical concerns, there are some situations when it’s best to see a healthcare professional in person.
For in-person prescriptions
If you’re considering a new form of contraception and you have a complex medical history, consider seeing a doctor in person.
This is especially true if you have contraindications — in other words, health conditions that might make certain medications harmful to your health.
There are a variety of contraindications to estrogen-containing birth control, including:
- being a smoker over the age of 35
- cancer, especially breast or liver cancer
- diabetes with complications
- high blood pressure
- history of blood clots
- history of lupus
- history of migraine with aura
It might also be worth seeing a doctor in person if you have previously experienced serious side effects while using contraception. Your doctor might be able to suggest a suitable alternative.
For health concerns
It’s best to see a healthcare professional when you need physical or visual exams. In some situations, doctors need to see you in person in order to provide a diagnosis. Visual exams may also need to be conducted in person.
You may need to see a healthcare professional in person to:
- check your blood pressure or heart rate
- collect blood or urine samples
- have a detailed visual exam, such as during a skin cancer screening
- undergo a physical exam, like a Pap smear or pelvic exam
- health services that require physical touch, like podiatry or physiotherapy
If you require physical exams, or if you have unexplained symptoms and need a diagnosis, it might be best to speak with a doctor in person.
In-person visits might also be better for small children and people who aren’t accustomed to using technology or online services.
Although birth control is safe for most people, it can have side effects and risks. Some people don’t experience side effects at all, while others experience mild to severe side effects.
Common side effects of hormonal birth control include:
- spotting between periods
- nausea
- headaches
- sore breasts
- acne
- changes in weight
- changes in libido
- fatigue
A rare but serious risk of hormonal contraception is blood clots, which may lead to heart attacks or strokes.
If you have high blood pressure, or if you have a personal or family history of blood clots, speak with a doctor before using hormonal contraception.
Fake pills
While there are many legitimate telemedicine companies out there, there are also a few scammers. It’s possible to receive poor advice or even counterfeit medication.
Overall, though, research suggests that getting birth control online is safe.
At Healthline, we thoroughly vet every company before recommending them. Read our choices for the best telemedicine companies.
Before buying birth control online, it’s essential to ensure that the company is legitimate. Look for companies that have registered, licensed healthcare professionals on staff.
Also consider:
- The variety of birth control options offered: While most online services offer the pill, less common types of birth control — like the ring and contraceptive gel — are only offered through certain sites.
- The costs: Consider not only the price of the contraceptive you want to get but whether the company charges for an initial consultation, shipping, or membership fees.
- The reviews: Most services will have both positive and negative reviews, but consider whether the reviews suggest any red flags.
- Insurance: Some telehealth services take insurance, while others don’t. However, even if the service doesn’t, your virtual consults and medication might be cheaper than what you would typically copay with insurance.
- Other perks: Some services offer added benefits, such as free follow-up appointments, wellness resources, and even gifts with their deliveries.
Does the Optum Store take insurance?
No, but some purchases are HSA and FSA eligible. This means that you can use your savings account cards to purchase certain products.
How long does it take for Optum to deliver my birth control?
Optum Store offers standard shipping within 5 days. If you’re located in Alaska or Hawaii, your order may take up to 10 days to arrive.
Keep in mind that these estimates are from when your contraception is approved by one of their doctors. It can take up to 2 business days for a doctor to approve or reject your request.
Can I get birth control pills over the counter?
Currently, you can’t get birth control pills over the counter in the United States. You need a prescription for them. However, you can buy birth control pills online.
Telemedicine services like Optum Store have a physician review your medical history and write a prescription for your desired birth control. This allows you to obtain birth control online without needing to see a doctor in person.
Can I stop using birth control whenever I want?
Yes. However, depending on your reasons for stopping, it can be a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional first.
If you still need some form of contraception, your doctor might be able to advise you on how to switch birth control safely and effectively.
You’ll also want to talk with a doctor first if you’re on the pill for medical reasons other than pregnancy prevention, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis.
If you want to try to get pregnant, it could take some time to conceive after you stop using birth control.
You might experience some uncomfortable effects, like spotting, when you go off the pill, as your body needs to adjust.
How do I know when I should take birth control?
Birth control pills should be taken daily around the same time every day. You can take it at any time of the day — it’s just important to be consistent.
If you’re looking for a telemedicine service for birth control, Optum Store is a legitimate and affordable option. The Optum Store offers a variety of birth control options that can be delivered directly to your door.