How to Get EC

All family planning clinics in Massachusetts provide EC. For many teens, this is a great option because it will cost less. If you have questions about where to get EC or if you'd like to find a family planning center near you, call the Sexual Health Helpline at (877) MA-SEX-ED or (877) 627-3933, or go to the clinics and services page.

Women and men 17 and over:

So here’s the deal, any woman or man 17 years old or over does not need a prescription to buy EC in a pharmacy in the United States. If you are 17 or older all you need is a government-issued photo I.D. that shows how old you are, and you can buy EC at any Massachusetts pharmacy that sells it. Under the law, Massachusetts pharmacists are not allowed to refuse to provide EC , but not all states have this law.

Women under 17 or women without I.D.

Young women under the age of 17 and women who do not have a photo I.D. need a prescription to buy EC over the counter. Once you have a prescription, you can fill it at any pharmacy. Also, there are a small number of specially trained pharmacists in Massachusetts who can provide EC to women under 17 without a prescription. Not all pharmacists offer this service, and the trained pharmacist must be at the pharmacy in order to provide the EC, so call ahead to make sure the specially trained EC pharmacist is working. Check out the list of specially trained pharmacists who can provide EC directly. Men under the age of 17 can’t buy EC, even from a specially trained pharmacist. However, if the woman is screened and counseled by the pharmacist over the phone, a man under 18 would be able to pick up the prescription for her, just like any other medication.

	Plan B One-Step® Over the Counter	Plan B One-Step® Prescription from a doctor	Plan B One-Step® Prescription from a Specially Trained Pharmacist
Age	17+	No restriction	No restriction
I.D.	Yes (Gov't issued with Date of Birth)	No	No
Who can pick it up	Any male or female	Patient, friend, family member or someone acting on behalf of the patient	Female patient must be screened by the pharmacist before prescription can be picked up.
Covered by insurance	No	Maybe. Depends on plan. MassHealth will pay for it.	Maybe. Depends on plan. MassHealth will pay for it
Cost	$25-$50	Depends on whether insurance pays partially or fully.	Depends on whether insurance pays partially or fully.

How can I make sure I get EC as soon as I need it?

Since EC must be taken within 5 days (120 hours) of having unprotected sex, you might want to go ahead and buy Plan B One-Step® so you’ll have it with you in an emergency. OR a doctor or family planning counselor can write you a prescription for Plan B One-Step® ahead of time so that you can fill it if you need to. A prescription is good for one year from the date it was written. So if you’re not going to go ahead and buy EC, make sure you know when the expiration date of your prescription is.

How much does EC cost?

Buying Plan B One-Step® over the counter from a drug store usually costs anywhere from $25 to $50. If you’re buying Plan B One-Step® using a prescription, many health insurance plans will cover some or all of the cost. Contact your health insurance provider if you are uncertain whether your plan will cover EC. MassHealth will pay for Plan B One-Step® with a prescription. Keep in mind that if you use your parents’ insurance, they may get a bill in the mail that says the reason for your visit to the doctor or pharmacy. But my advice is that if you’re getting EC, it’s because you’re either having sex, or thinking about it, and that’s something you should try to talk with your parents or another adult about it. If you’re too scared to talk to them, your doctor or family planning clinic can help you.

If you don’t have insurance or cannot get a prescription, many family planning clinics can provide EC at a lower cost or free, based on what you can afford to pay. For many teens, this is the most affordable option. (I know I don’t always have an extra $50 lying around!) The clinic my Aunt Lucia works at gives Plan B One-Step® out for free, and there are tons of other places that do that too.

To find a family planning clinic near you, call the Sexual Health Helpline at (877) MA-SEX-ED (877) 627-3933, or go to the clinics and services page.

Next Section: Where to get EC

Learn more about EC