Plans are allowed to say that they'll only cover the full cost of certain brands or generics, and then charge a co-pay or full price for other types that are essentially the same, says Gandal-Powers. For example, they can offer you one free generic version of a certain birth control pill, but then charge you a co-pay for Ortho Tri-Cyclen (the name brand) or any of the other generics. In some cases they may even offer a name brand like Yasmin for free, but then charge you for the generics. It's up to the insurance plan to decide which ones they cover, but they do have to cover at least one type of each FDA-approved birth control method WITHOUT a co-pay.

How To Get Birth Control For Free: Call your insurance company and ask why you're being charged for your birth control. If they tell you that they just don't cover your method, ask which one they cover that is the most similar to the method you are on.

If it's just a matter of switching between a generic or name brand in order to get your birth control for free, ask your doctor if there's any reason why you shouldn't switch to the free one. For the most part, generics and name brand meds are pretty much the same, but there is a possibility you could have an interaction or side effect to one that you wouldn't get on the other, so always ask your doctor before agreeing to switch, says Gandal-Powers.

If you and your doctor decide that you should not switch to the free option and there is a medical reason why you need to be on the one that you're prescribed, your insurance must provide a waiver for you to fill out so that you can get that birth control without a co-pay, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. You can ask your doctor or insurance company for this waiver, then have your doctor help you fill it out and submit it.