Clinical Report: Access and Insurance Coverage for Contraceptive Implants in the United States

Overview

Contraceptive implants are a highly effective reversible birth control method. This report discusses the challenges in access and insurance coverage for these implants in the U.S.

Background

Contraceptive implants, introduced in the U.S. in the 1990s, provide a long-acting reversible contraception option with a low failure rate. Understanding barriers to their adoption is essential for improving access.

Data Highlights

According to national data from 2022 to 2023, 5% of women ages 15-49 using contraception opted for the implant, with higher usage among younger and lower-income women.

Key Findings

• Implants are the most effective FDA-approved reversible contraceptive with a 0.05% failure rate.
• 5% of women ages 15-49 using contraception in the U.S. chose the implant between 2022 and 2023.
• 11% of adolescent girls using contraception reported using the contraceptive implant.
• Barriers to implant use include high up-front costs and the need for trained clinicians for insertion and removal.
• The Affordable Care Act mandates contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing, yet many users still face out-of-pocket expenses.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should be informed about the barriers to access for contraceptive implants.

Conclusion

Contraceptive implants are a highly effective birth control method, but barriers to access and awareness need to be addressed.

Related Resources & Content

1. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Out-of-Pocket Costs for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Individuals Enrolled in Employer Sponsored Insurance Plans, 2024
2. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Women’s Health Insurance Coverage, 2024
3. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), State Choices, Unequal Access: Policies Shaping Reproductive Health Care Across the United States, 2024
4. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 | MMWR
5. Frontiers in Reproductive Health — On-site IUD implementation in a student-run free clinic
6. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 | MMWR
7. SUPPLEMENT APPROVAL
8. Effectiveness of the etonogestrel subdermal implant in users with overweight and obesity: a systematic literature review | BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
9. Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2024-47 | Internal Revenue Service
10. State Requirements for Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | KFF State Health Facts
11. Association of Medicaid Reimbursement Policies with Provision of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in the Postpartum Period, 2012–2018 - Kyle J. Moon, Lenisa V. Chang, Ian Bryant, Kathryn A. Hasenstab, Alison H. Norris, Saira Nawaz, 2024