If you're thinking about getting an IUD, you're probably wondering about the cost of an IUD. Though 99% effective as birth control, the small, T-shaped devices known as intrauterine devices (IUDs) can be expensive. IUD costs can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars without insurance. Yet, with some insurance, people may be able to get an IUD at no charge. There are also programs where you can get discounts.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an IUD should be free if you have insurance. The ACA requires most private insurance companies to cover FDA-approved birth control prescribed by a healthcare provider.

So, if you have insurance, getting an IUD—including the cost of the device, insertion, and removal—should not cost you anything, including a copay or deductible.

One study on contraception use and out-of-pocket costs under the ACA found that in 2016, 64% of people with private insurance paid nothing to get an IUD.

While a health plan is required to cover different types of birth control, such as the IUD, there may be some exceptions that might require that you pay out-of-pocket:

Again, your insurance should technically cover appointments for IUD insertion andremoval. Still, these are some fees you may run into depending on the provider you see and how each visit is billed.

"For most patients, getting an IUD will at most cost them less than $200 total for everything, and for a lot, it is $0," said Dr. Yamaguchi. "It is important to check your benefits for the cost to you, not whether it is covered." This is because even if the IUD is covered, you may be responsible for various fees or copays related to getting or removing the device.

Here is a rough estimate of how much an IUD can cost without insurance, which ranges from $0 to up to around $1,300:

Pre-insertion STD testing: $25-$200

Pregnancy test before insertion: $20 or less

Cost of IUD: $400-$1,000

Cost of insertion/removal: $125-$400 (cost of insertion/removal are often bundled together)

One study further broke down out-of-pocket costs according to the type of IUD:

Copper IUDs (10-year IUD): $1,000 or more

Levonorgestrel IUD (5-year IUD): $100 to $1,000

IUD charges can add up if you don't have insurance. Some offices do ultrasounds to ensure the IUD placement is correct, which could be another $100 to $500.

For comparison, birth control pills can cost anywhere from $0 per year, with most health insurance plans and some government programs. One study found that the average yearly out-of-pocket cost was around $390 for some oral contraception options.

There are options for those who can't afford the steep cost of an IUD. The Title X Family Planning Program is a national healthcare system that provides important preventative care and reproductive health services to those who can't afford them. Title X clinics offer sliding scale fees for services based on your income.

"If you find a Title X family planning clinic, [an IUD] might be free depending on how much your income is," Sophia Yen, MD, CEO and co-founder of Pandia Health, a women-founded and led birth control delivery service, told Health.

Examples of Title X clinics that will provide low-cost or free IUD services include:

Academic clinics

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

Most Planned Parenthoods

You can find a Title X clinic in your area on the Office of Population Affairs website. Additionally, if you don't have health insurance, you may be eligible to purchase it (and qualify for substantial discounts) on the Affordable Care Act's Insurance Marketplace in your state.

Cost can be the deciding factor for a person if they want an IUD. IUD cost is typically lower with insurance. If you don't have insurance, getting one from a Title X family planning clinic can make an IUD more affordable. Remember to talk with a healthcare provider to determine if an IUD is the right birth control method for you.