Does Medicare Cover an IUD? 

Today in the United States, over 65 million people are enrolled in Medicare, and approximately eight million of these beneficiaries qualify for coverage because they have disabilities, end-stage renal disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

Included in this group of eight million beneficiaries are approximately one million women between the ages of 18 and 44, many of whom are seeking contraceptive care like intrauterine devices (IUDs).  

An IUD is a small device – either copper or hormonal – that a health care provider places into the patient’s uterus. IUDs can help prevent pregnancies for ten or more years and can easily be removed when someone chooses to become pregnant. 

Does Medicare cover an IUD? 

Medicare doesn’t typically cover any form of contraception – including IUDs – because it isn’t required by federal law to do so. However, you may be able to get coverage for an IUD or other forms of contraception through Medicaid if you qualify as a dual-eligible beneficiary. 

You may qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage if you meet the following criteria:

• You qualify for Medicaid in your state of residence based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income and whether you’re a resident of the state. Furthermore, you must also be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident. 
• You qualify for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) due to age, disability, or illness.
• You are residing in the coverage area of the dual-eligible plan you enroll in. 

Through dual eligibility, you have access to benefits that are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the primary provider and Medicaid is the secondary provider. If you require insurance coverage for health care services that Medicare doesn’t cover, like IUDs, then Medicaid covers its share of the benefit.

Today in the United States, Medicaid covers all FDA-approved forms of birth control including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) like IUDs and implants for beneficiaries who qualify for coverage.

Medicaid’s coverage and cost-sharing for these services depend on the state where you get the care, so you should discuss the details with an agent at a local CMS office, or with your health care provider.

How much does an IUD cost without Medicare or Medicaid insurance coverage? 

The cost of an IUD depends on the type and where you get your care. The national average cost of a ten-year copper IUD is $1000, and a five-year levonorgestrel (hormone) IUD ranges between $100 and $1000. 
If you don’t qualify as a Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible beneficiary, you should expect to pay the following out-of-pocket for the process of getting an IUD without insurance coverage:

• Between $25 and $200 for STD testing done before the insertion of the IUD
• Approximately $20 for a pregnancy test (before insertion) 
• Between $400 and $1000 for the IUD
• Between $125 and $400 for the insertion fee 

Your health care provider may also perform an ultrasound after inserting the IUD to ensure that it’s been placed correctly, adding $100 to $500 to your final cost.