An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small T-shaped contraceptive placed in the uterus by a clinician. Five FDA-approved brands are sold in the United States: Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta and Skyla (hormonal, levonorgestrel) and Paragard (copper, no hormones). In 2026, the device alone lists at roughly $934 to $1,414 per GoodRx and SingleCare price data, and the full cash price with exam and insertion commonly lands between $500 and $1,800 depending on where the IUD is placed and whether a sliding-scale program applies.
Insurance status decides almost everything about the final bill. Under the Affordable Care Act, ACA-compliant plans must cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods, including IUDs, with no deductible, copay, or coinsurance in 2026 when the plan's required conditions are met, based on the HRSA Women's Preventive Services Guidelines at HealthCare.gov. An IUD is not a USPSTF-graded service, so the coverage mandate comes from HRSA rather than USPSTF. Uninsured patients pay the cash price, which ranges widely by clinic type.
Coverage in this guide spans what an IUD costs without insurance in 2026, brand-by-brand device pricing, what Medicare does and does not pay, how to request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act, and the self-pay programs that cut the price. Related reading: the No Surprises Act guide and the Medical Bill Analyzer for checking an existing bill.
IUD Cost by Site of Service in 2026
The biggest cost driver of IUD is the site of service: where the procedure is performed. 2026 CMS price transparency data confirms a 2-3x billing differential between independent centers and hospital outpatient departments.
IUD prices without insurance vs. 2026 Medicare rates| Site of Service | Range Without Insurance | 2026 Medicare Rate |
|---|
| Sliding-scale family planning clinic (Title X, Planned Parenthood, FQHC) | $0 to $1,300 | Not covered for contraception |
| Private OB-GYN office | $900 to $1,800 | Not covered for contraception |
| Hospital outpatient clinic | $1,300 to $1,800 | Not covered for contraception |
| Postpartum placement during delivery admission | Varies by hospital | Bundled in delivery billing |
Ranges are typical 2026 cash prices for device, exam, and insertion, compiled from GoodRx, SingleCare, Planned Parenthood, and FAIR Health Consumer pricing guidance. Actual prices vary by region, brand, and clinic. Medicare does not cover IUDs used for contraception.
Source: GoodRx 2026, SingleCare 2026, Planned Parenthood, FAIR Health Consumer 2026, CMS 2026 Physician Fee Schedule
Why the Same Procedure Is So Much More at a Hospital
The 2026 IUD cost gap between sites comes mainly from who buys the device and how the clinic marks it up. Family planning clinics purchase devices through discounted public-health pricing and apply sliding-scale fees, so a patient under 100 percent of the federal poverty level can pay $0 at some Title X sites. Private offices and hospital clinics bill closer to the manufacturer list price plus an exam and insertion fee, which commonly adds $100 to $400 in 2026.
Hospital outpatient clinics add a facility fee under provider-based billing, and their cash prices are drawn from the chargemaster, the internal list price that almost no insurer pays in full. Self-pay patients can ask for the hospital's uninsured discount, which many hospitals set at 20 to 60 percent off chargemaster. Eligibility for sliding-scale pricing depends on household income, so check the federal poverty level tables before calling.
IUD cost by brand in 2026
IUD brands differ in hormone type, years of protection, and list price. The 2026 device prices below are manufacturer-based list estimates from GoodRx and SingleCare; the exam and insertion fee is billed on top of the device unless the clinic quotes a bundled price.
Typical cost by variant| Brand | Type and approved duration | Device price (2026 estimate) | HCPCS code |
|---|
| Paragard | Copper, hormone-free, up to 10 years | $1,071 | J7300 |
| Mirena | Levonorgestrel 52 mg, up to 8 years | $1,303 | J7298 |
| Kyleena | Levonorgestrel 19.5 mg, up to 5 years | $1,414 | J7296 |
| Liletta | Levonorgestrel 52 mg, up to 8 years | $934 | J7297 |
Device prices are 2026 estimates and exclude the exam and insertion fee ($100 to $400 in 2026). Skyla (J7301, up to 3 years) is also FDA-approved but is less commonly stocked. Manufacturer copay programs for Mirena and Kyleena can lower insured out-of-pocket costs, and Bayer runs a patient assistance foundation for eligible uninsured patients.
Source: GoodRx 2026, SingleCare 2026, FDA labeling, HCPCS Level II J-codes
What Medicare Pays for IUD
Original Medicare does not cover IUDs used for contraception. Medicare Part B excludes contraceptive devices by statute, so the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payment for contraceptive IUD insertion is $0 and claims auto-deny, as noted in CMS payment policy at cms.gov. Medicare may consider coverage only when an IUD is medically necessary for a non-contraceptive diagnosis, which is rare and plan-specific. Most IUD patients are under 65 and use Medicaid, an ACA plan, or cash. For any covered service, Medicare Part B pays 80 percent after the 2026 deductible of $283.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers and may add benefits, but contraception is rarely among them, so check the plan's Summary of Benefits. Medigap supplements follow Original Medicare coverage decisions and will not pay for a service Medicare excludes. For commercial insurance in 2026, ACA-compliant plans cover at least one IUD in each method category at $0 when in-network, though a high-deductible health plan may apply the deductible to out-of-network or non-preferred brands. Prior authorization is uncommon for IUDs but a plan may require a preferred brand, and a documented medical-necessity exception can be requested.
The No Surprises Act, effective January 1, 2022, gives self-pay and uninsured patients the right to a written Good Faith Estimate before an IUD placement. When the appointment is scheduled at least 10 business days out, the provider must deliver the Good Faith Estimate at least 3 business days before service. For appointments scheduled 3 to 9 business days out, the estimate is due at least 1 business day before service. The federal guidance is at cms.gov/nosurprisesact. Medicare and Medicaid patients have separate protections.
To request a Good Faith Estimate for an IUD in 2026, follow five steps. (1) Call the clinic or OB-GYN office and say you are self-pay or uninsured. (2) Ask for a written Good Faith Estimate listing the device brand, procedure codes, exam fee, and any lab or ultrasound charges. (3) Give your ZIP code and any add-ons, such as a pregnancy test, STI screening, or follow-up ultrasound. (4) Confirm the timing: 3 business days before service if scheduled 10 or more business days out, or 1 business day if scheduled 3 to 9 days out. (5) Keep the written estimate, because a final bill that exceeds it by $400 or more can be disputed within 120 days of the bill date through the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.
A Good Faith Estimate for an IUD is not a guaranteed final bill. Common reasons the charges exceed the estimate include an added pregnancy test or STI screening, a pelvic ultrasound to confirm placement, a difficult insertion needing extra supplies or a second visit, a different device brand than quoted, and pathology if tissue is sent to a lab. If the final bill exceeds the Good Faith Estimate by $400 or more, the patient has 120 days from the bill date to file a dispute at cms.gov/nosurprisesact.
What Factors Affect Cost
- Site of service: sliding-scale family planning clinics can charge $0 to $1,300 in 2026, while private offices and hospital outpatient clinics bill $900 to $1,800.
- Brand and type: 2026 device list prices run from about $934 (Liletta) to $1,414 (Kyleena), and copper (Paragard) at $1,071 avoids hormones.
- Insurance status: ACA-compliant plans and Medicaid cover IUDs at $0 in 2026 when in-network, Original Medicare excludes contraceptive IUDs, and uninsured patients pay the cash price.
- Self-pay at independent and family planning clinics: Planned Parenthood and other Title X sites set sliding-scale fees by household size and income, and some independent OB-GYN practices quote a bundled cash price covering exam, device, and insertion.
- Hospital chargemaster discount ask: hospitals publish a self-pay or uninsured discount policy, often 20 to 60 percent off chargemaster in 2026, and some apply it only when the patient asks.
- Sliding-scale FQHCs and Title X: Federally Qualified Health Centers and Title X clinics charge by income, and patients below 100 percent of the federal poverty level may pay $0 for some contraceptive services. See the [federal poverty level](/federal-poverty-level) and [Medicaid income limits](/medicaid-income-limits) pages for thresholds.
- Manufacturer programs: Bayer's copay savings program can lower Mirena and Kyleena out-of-pocket costs for insured patients, and the Bayer US Patient Assistance Foundation supplies devices to eligible uninsured patients in 2026.
- Add-on services and removal: pregnancy tests, STI screening, ultrasounds, and later IUD removal are billed separately and can add $50 to $300 in 2026 if not bundled in the quote.
Common IUD Billing Errors
IUD bills often go wrong because device and insertion are billed on separate lines and preventive coverage depends on correct coding. Check for these 2026 errors before paying:
- Insured patient billed for the IUD even though contraception is a $0 preventive benefit on ACA-compliant plans. Ask the insurer to reprocess the claim as preventive.
- Office visit charge added on top of the insertion when the visit was solely for placement, which can turn a $0 service into a copay.
- Device billed at the hospital chargemaster rate instead of the lower invoice or self-pay price.
- Device brand billed that differs from the brand actually placed, so the code and price do not match the Good Faith Estimate.
- Duplicate device and insertion lines from both the clinic and a separate billing entity.
- Removal or follow-up visit billed separately when the plan covers it at $0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an IUD cost without insurance in 2026?
Without insurance, an IUD costs about $500 to $1,800 in 2026 for the device, exam, and insertion combined, with a national median near $1,300. Device-only list prices in 2026 are roughly $934 for Liletta, $1,071 for Paragard, $1,303 for Mirena, and $1,414 for Kyleena. Sliding-scale Title X and Planned Parenthood clinics can charge much less, and some patients pay $0. Ask for a bundled cash price and a written Good Faith Estimate before scheduling.
What does Medicare pay for an IUD?
Original Medicare pays $0 for contraceptive IUDs in 2026. Medicare Part B excludes contraceptive devices by statute, so the Physician Fee Schedule payment for contraceptive IUD insertion is $0 and claims are denied. Medicare may review coverage only for a non-contraceptive medical need, which is rare. Medicare Advantage plans follow similar rules unless they add a benefit, and Medigap pays nothing Medicare excludes. For other covered services, the 2026 Part B deductible is $283 with 20 percent coinsurance.
How do I request a Good Faith Estimate for an IUD?
Call the clinic, say you are self-pay or uninsured, and ask for a written Good Faith Estimate that lists the device brand, procedure codes, exam fee, and any lab or ultrasound charges. Provide your ZIP code and planned add-ons. The provider must send it at least 3 business days before service when scheduled 10 or more business days out, or 1 business day before when scheduled 3 to 9 days out. Keep it: bills exceeding it by $400 or more can be disputed within 120 days at cms.gov/nosurprisesact.
What is the No Surprises Act and does it apply to me?
The No Surprises Act, effective January 1, 2022, protects patients from surprise bills and requires a Good Faith Estimate for self-pay and uninsured patients. It applies to IUD placements at hospitals, ambulatory centers, clinics, and physician offices. If your final bill exceeds the estimate by $400 or more, you can file a patient-provider dispute within 120 days. It does not cover Medicare or Medicaid enrollees, who have separate protections. Insured patients get balance-billing protections for certain out-of-network emergency and facility-based care.
How do I get a written cash-pay quote for an IUD?
Call before scheduling and ask, What is the self-pay cash price for an IUD placement? Ask whether the quote includes the device brand, exam, insertion, pregnancy test, and follow-up. Request it in writing as a Good Faith Estimate. Compare family planning clinics, independent OB-GYN offices, and the hospital, whose cash price is based on the chargemaster. Ask about a same-day payment discount and sliding-scale fees, and check manufacturer assistance if you need Mirena or Kyleena in 2026.
Can I negotiate an IUD bill after the fact?
Yes. Even after a bill arrives, patients can ask for an itemized bill, a self-pay discount, a payment plan, or financial assistance. Cash-pay-now offers often cut 30 to 50 percent. Hospitals frequently apply charity care or uninsured discounts of 20 to 60 percent off chargemaster when asked. If the bill exceeds your Good Faith Estimate by $400 or more, file a patient-provider dispute within 120 days of the bill date through cms.gov/nosurprisesact. Check the bill against the estimate in the Medical Bill Analyzer.
What is the difference between hospital and clinic IUD cost?
In 2026, a sliding-scale family planning clinic charges $0 to $1,300 for an IUD, a private OB-GYN office $900 to $1,800, and a hospital outpatient clinic $1,300 to $1,800. The device is identical, but clinics buy at public-health pricing and charge by income, while hospitals add facility fees and bill from the chargemaster. Insured patients on an ACA-compliant plan usually pay $0 at any in-network site, so network status matters more than site.
Will my insurance cover an IUD?
Yes, in most cases. ACA-compliant plans must cover at least one IUD with no deductible, copay, or coinsurance in 2026 when you use an in-network provider, under the HRSA Women's Preventive Services Guidelines. An IUD is not a USPSTF-graded service, so the mandate comes from HRSA. Medicaid covers family planning without cost sharing, and some employer plans are exempt under religious exemptions. Original Medicare does not cover contraceptive IUDs. Ask your plan which brands are preferred before you book.
What is the difference between a hormonal IUD and a copper IUD?
A hormonal IUD (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla) releases levonorgestrel and often lightens periods, while the copper IUD (Paragard) contains no hormones and works up to 10 years. In 2026, device prices run from $934 (Liletta) to $1,414 (Kyleena), with Paragard at $1,071. Total cash cost depends more on clinic type than on brand. On ACA-compliant plans each type is covered at $0 in-network, though a plan may prefer specific brands.
How much does IUD removal cost in 2026?
IUD removal typically costs $0 to $300 in 2026 without insurance, depending on the clinic, and is often free or low cost at sliding-scale family planning clinics. ACA-compliant plans cover removal as part of the contraceptive benefit. Ask whether removal is included in the Good Faith Estimate or bundled in the original insertion price, and confirm the removal visit is not billed as a separate office visit.
