FAQ

Nurx is a hassle-free way to get birth control and PrEP delivered to you. Go to the Nurx home page and Click Get Started or Looking for PrEP? Get started in 3 simple steps:

1. Select the prescription you'd like or select the option to get a doctor's advice on which method might work best for you.
2. Answer a few health questions.
3. Enter your demographic information & complete your order.

A licensed medical provider will review your request and write a prescription once they've reviewed your health history. Nurx will fill and ship the prescription to you. The process takes about 3-5 business days once we receive your complete request with all the information we need. Nurx automatically refills and ships your prescription!

More Info

Watch This Video to hear from our doctor about the birth control process, or check out this video to hear more about PrEP with Nurx.

Birth control shipments take about 3-5 business days to arrive after you complete your prescription request. To speed up the process, make sure your request contains all the info our doctor will need:

• Clear photo of your ID (passport, driver's license, school ID, etc)
• Complete health questionnaire
• Up-to-date delivery address
• Valid credit or debit card for any copays or out-of-pocket costs
• If using insurance, a clear photo of the front and back of your Rx insurance card
  • Coverage must be active
  • The card should have the ID, Rx BIN, Rx PCN, and Rx Group #s
  • The name and date of birth associated with your insurance plan matches your photo ID

Also, please be prepared to provide the results of a blood pressure check taken in the past 6 months.  

If you used insurance:

Some insurance companies only cover 1 pack every month. In these cases, Nurx will only ship 1 month at a time to make the most of your insurance benefits. Nurx automatically refills your prescription on the earliest date that your insurance will allow to make sure you do not run out of your prescription.  

If you paid cash:

Please reach out to Nurx in your Nurx Messenger and we will investigate.

Yes!

Get a Doctor's Expert Recommendation:

1. Click Get Started on Nurx
2. Choose the "Let the doctor select a pill for me!" option
3. Answer a few health questions
4. Complete your Nurx sign-up and submit your request for a prescription
5. A medical provider will reach out to you with a recommendation or follow up questions

Learn More About All Your Options:

Bedsider also contains detailed information about various birth control methods.  

You can cancel your order by messaging Nurx through your Nurx messenger at https://app.nurx.com/messages, or by calling 800-321-NURX between 8am and 5pm PST Monday through Friday.

If you wish to modify or cancel, you must notify Nurx prior to the prescription being dispensed.

You will be notified that the order is dispensed via Nurx Message. The message will include what medication was dispensed, and the total cost (if applicable). To make you aware of your refill order status, we send you messages at 3 key points in your order:

1. When your order is being prepared (before it is filled and shipped)
2. When it is dispensed and charged to your insurance/credit card
3. When USPS or Fedex begins the delivery process

To successfully cancel, you must message Nurx before Message 2 is sent, which is when the order is dispensed and charged to your insurance or credit card. You can cancel your order by messaging Nurx through your Nurx messenger at https://app.nurx.com/messages , or by calling 800-321-NURX. The order is confirmed cancelled when Nurx Customer Care Team messages you confirming that the order has been cancelled. If Nurx is able to intercept the package before it is shipped, we are able to issue a refund.

Once the package is dispensed and shipped, the order is final and cannot be returned or refunded. Federal law prohibits pharmacies from accepting returns or exchanges on prescriptions, to protect the integrity of the medication and the health of our patients.

If you think you received an order in error, are experiencing delays with a shipment, or have questions about your order, please send Nurx a message at https://app.nurx.com/messages or call 800-321-6879 between Monday and Friday 8 am - 5 pm PST.

Nurx automatically refills your birth control prescription for 1 year from the time you begin using our service. Nurx automatically refills PrEP prescriptions for 3 months from your prescription request.  When we can no longer ship you refills, we will message you with a reminder to renew your service so that you never miss a refill.  

Nurx's consultation and standard shipping are free. The cost for birth control, PrEP, and emergency contraceptives depends on if you are insured and your insurance plan:

• With health insurance: Your birth control prescription is free in most cases.
  • Insurance companies set the cost or 'copay' for prescriptions. Usually this is $0 - it can range depending on your plan and the prescription that you and your doctor select.
  • Nurx charges the copay set by your insurance when your prescription is filled.
  • Please call your insurance company if you would like to know your copay.

• Without health insurance: You can purchase your birth control through Nurx starting at $15 per pack.
  • Contact Nurx at support@nurx.co or by calling 800-321-NURX and we can provide a price estimate for a specific prescription.

• See more info if you are paying for PrEP

If you choose to pick up your birth control prescription at a non-Nurx pharmacy, a small service fee applies.

Nurx ships to:

• California
• New York
• Washington, DC
• Pennsylvania
• Illinois
• Washington
• Florida
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Virginia
• Texas

If you don't see your state listed here, email us at support@nurx.co and we will notify you when we're in your state!

Minimum age requirements for birth control vary by state. You must be at least 12 years of age to be considered, and state-by-state regulations may require that a patient be older in order to receive service Please check your local laws for clarification. The risks of hormonal contraception increase for women age 50 and over, and your regular doctor is in the best position to help you safely manage your contraception needs.

Drugs are shipped directly from a licensed pharmacy near you. We will automatically pick a pharmacy near you that can send out the drugs. If you want, we can send your script to another pharmacy of your choosing, but then you will have to pick up your prescription in person.

Our provider team are licensed clinicians in your state, and most are specialized in an area related to Nurx services.

Yes. We can start you on birth control pills. If you know what pill you want, you can choose it through Nurx. Our doctors are also happy to help you find a pill that works for you and answer any questions you have about birth control. Get Started Now

You can email us at any time at support@nurx.co . Alternatively, you can call us at 1-800-321-NURX (6879) between 8am and 5pm PST.

Nurx can be accessed 24/7 and you can send us a message at any time. Messages are responded to by the next business day or sooner. Phone support is available Monday - Friday, 8AM to 5PM Pacific Standard Time at 800-321-6879.

Yes! Drugs prescribed and sent through Nurx are prescribed using the same rules and medical standards as your family physician. A Nurx medical professional will only prescribe a medication if it is safe to do so based on the info provided by the patient.

Anyone who needs birth control or Truvada for PrEP can use Nurx. Get Started Now

The transaction record will show Nurx.co and the amount. Details regarding a prescription will not appear on the transaction record.

We currently accept CA (including FPACT) & NY Medicaid. We are currently unable to accept most plans under other state Medicaid plans unless there is a managed care insurance card associated with your plan.

We offer the ring and the patch! Get Nuvaring Here or Get the Patch Here

Yes, we offer these services overnight, please be sure to let the doctor know that you need it ASAP. To avoid any delivery delays, we can also call prescriptions in to local pharmacies for you to pick up if you need it urgently.

Yes. Nurx will send you a tracking link when the order leaves the pharmacy. You can use this link to track your package and get updates on the status of delivery.

Yes. When you make your initial request you can let us know you want to talk to a doctor. You can also chat with the doctor via secure messaging, phone or video.

We offer most oral contraceptive that local pharmacies stock. In addition to this we offer the the skin patch and the vaginal ring. We do our best to keep a consistent brand for each user, however due to multiple circumstances, you may receive another generic alternative for your prescription medication.

We do our best to send you 3 months at a time through your insurance. If your insurance limits you to 1 month at a time, we will properly time your refills so that you never miss a pill.

Yes, please send us a message via your Nurx Message window if you would like a refill and signed up with Nurx in the past 12 months. We may also ask you some follow up questions, or to fill out a new request to make sure that your prescription and delivery meets your expectations.

Contraceptives are delivered by USPS via 2-day priority mail. No signature is required for delivery of birth control. The packaging is discreet, and there is no mention of Nurx or a pharmacy on the outside of the envelope.

We provide free delivery, which in most cases is within 72hrs after your request has been approved by a medical provider. Prescription deliveries will happen anywhere between 2 - 4 days from an order being approved. If you are interested in an expedited delivery service in the SF Bay Area, please contact us directly by sending us a Message in your Nurx profile, or by calling 1-800-321-NURX between 9am and 5pm PST.

If you want us to, we can share your information with your primary care physician. We believe it is a good idea for your primary care physician to have a full picture of your health, and encourage you to share the health information we have about you with your primary care physician. You're in control though, so we will not send them anything without your express permission.

Nurx does not share your information with anyone without your permission.

Nurx won't tell your parent(s) or anyone else that you are on birth control. As part of regular health insurance communications, your insurance company sends some of your confidential health information – like the services you received and when – to the policy holder of your health plan.

You may be able to protect your privacy by contacting your insurance company to request that they disclose your sensitive health information - including birth control and STI care - to you only. If you contact your insurance provider directly to ask them to suppress your sensitive health information from your insurance plan holder, we cannot guarantee making this request with your insurance company will protect your sensitive health information from the policy holder of your plan. But if you don’t make the request, your information will be disclosed to the policy holder in regular health insurance communications. If you’re on someone else’s insurance plan, the surest way to keep payments related to your birth control private is to not use insurance at all and pay out of pocket with a debit or credit card. Should you choose this, our medical team is happy to help you find a birth control that fits your budget. If you live in California, your insurer is required by law to honor your request to keep your sensitive health information private. Learn more about how to make a request here: http://www.myhealthmyinfo.org/ Your insurance company may share information about your claims with your parents. Unfortunately, we have no control over the information disclosed by your insurance company. Please contact your insurance company to find out what information they will share with a parent or plan holder.

Yes! All payments are processed through industry standard credit card systems.

Your information is transmitted to Nurx using industry standard encryption, and stored in encrypted form on our servers according to strict federal standards, including HIPAA.

The Truvada process happens in 3 phases. All 3 phases can take as few as 5-7 business days total:

• Phase 1: Approximately 2-3 days for Nurx to review your benefits and medical questions.
• Phase 2: A medical provider refers you to a lab facility. You go to the lab at your convenience to have your samples drawn. Sample processing can take a few days. 
• Phase 3: When Nurx receives your lab results, the processing and shipping of the medication takes an additional 2-4 business days.

Truvada is shipped using Fedex 2-day with signature requirement. Please be sure that you are present at the shipping address for delivery!

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is a method of HIV prevention. Individuals take an anti-HIV medication on a daily basis to stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body. It is highly effective for preventing HIV if taken daily, but it is much less effective when not taken consistently. Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex up to 99%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%. Your risk of getting HIV from sex can be even lower if you combine PrEP with condoms, treatment as prevention (TasP), and other prevention methods. For more info, check out our What is PrEP? page!

Deciding to begin PrEP is a highly personal decision that no one can make for you. When thinking about whether or not PrEP may be right for you, start out by taking your risk factors for HIV into consideration. Here are the CDC’s recommendations for good PrEP candidates: 18 years of age or older, currently HIV negative, and also meet one of the following criteria:

•     In a sexual relationship with an HIV positive partner, especially if that person is not on ART therapy or is not virologically suppressed.
•     In a sexual relationship with a single partner of unknown HIV status, or have multiple partners of unknown HIV status.
•     One or more incidences of condomless anal or vaginal sex in the last 6 months
•     Diagnosis of rectal or vaginal gonorrhea and/or chlamydia, or syphilis in the last 6 months
•     Inject drugs not prescribed by a medical provider, or share works for drug preparation.
•     Have an HIV positive partner and trying to get pregnant.

If any of the above listed criteria sound like you, you’re most likely a good candidate for PrEP.

1.     People who are already HIV positive should not take PrEP. Truvada on its own in not enough to treat HIV. Usually one or two additional medications are needed to successfully achieve virologic suppression.
2.     People who have symptoms of acute HIV (symptoms similar to the flu) or have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, would be more appropriate).
3.     People with active Hepatitis B should not take PrEP. Since Truvada can be used to treat active HBV, stopping the drug suddenly could cause a flare up of the virus. If your screening test comes back positive for HBV, we will refer you to your primary care provider for further evaluation and care.
4.     People with uncontrolled diabetes could possibly take PrEP, but under very close provider supervision. Truvada is excreted by the kidneys, and those with uncontrolled diabetes will often spill sugar into their urine. This causes quite a stress on the kidneys.  Getting one’s blood sugar under control is an extremely important first step.
5.     People with impaired kidney function should not take PrEP. This means that if your creatinine clearance is less than 60mL/min, it might be too hard on your kidneys to take Truvada. This value will be monitored closely as long as you are on PrEP to ensure it doesn’t go down dramatically. Small fluctuations during the course of taking PrEP are normal.
6.   Please don’t take PrEP unless it has been prescribed for you by a medical provider.

When taken as prescribed, Truvada is up to 99% effective. The more regularly you take Truvada as prescribed (up to 7 pills per week), the better the level of protection. The efficacy of Truvada as PrEP has been studied extensively - read more on the studies that helped pave the way for Truvada’s FDA approval.

It takes 7-10 days for therapeutic levels of Truvada to build up in rectal tissue. It can take up to 21 days for vaginal tissue and for injection drug use until full protection is reached. There is no data available for oral tissue.

Taking any sort of medication carries risk, though these risks can be minimal. If you experience side effects, tell your healthcare provider immediately. He or she can help you develop a strategy for taking the medication that minimizes the side effects. It’s possible to see a significant decrease in kidney function while taking Truvada. Normal kidney function is restored once Truvada is stopped. If Truvada is stopped due to kidney issues, once normal function resumes, usually individuals can try taking Truvada again. Although rare, reports of a loss of bone density has been reported in some users. This was reversed when Truvada was stopped. Negative side effects, if experienced, can include:

•     Nausea and vomiting
•     Gastrointestinal upset including diarrhea and gas
•     Headaches
•     Strange vivid dreams

Potential positive side effects can also occur:

•     Reduced anxiety around HIV
•     Finding you have the mental and emotional will to take control of your sexual health

Most negative side effects are considered a “start-up syndrome,” meaning that they will go away with continued use of Truvada. For most people, side effects are mild enough to continue taking the drug, although sometimes the side effects are prolonged and severe.

Starting and stopping PrEP depends on your healthcare provider's recommendation.  According to iPrEx lead researcher Dr. Robert Grant: "People go through 'seasons of risk,' periods of their lives when they are at risk for acquiring HIV, and PrEP is appropriate for those times. In periods when they have negotiated safety with a partner or they’re just not having much sex, they may find they don’t need PrEP. It’s actually appropriate that some people stop PrEP, because they’re in a different phase of their life and they no longer need it." There has been a lot of media attention focused on the IPERGAY study, or on-demand dosing of Truvada. Further analysis of the data is needed to determine whether or not this is a viable HIV prevention strategy. To date, the only FDA approved regimen is daily dosing. If you are considering stopping Truvada, it is recommended that you keep taking it for 28 days after the last possible exposure to HIV. If you have active Hepatitis B, please consult your primary care provider to stop Truvada safely.

Log on to nurx.com/prep and click "Get Started on PrEP" Answer questions about your general health, current risk for HIV, and some questions about future risk. Then, upload a photo ID and clear photos of the front and back of your insurance card(s) to our site, and provide us with your preferred shipping address. A PrEP expert will work with you to navigate the potential costs associated with the prescription. It is ultimately the patient's responsibility to verify insurance benefits and costs of labs and medication prior to receiving services. There is no cost for the Nurx service itself, but insurance copays and lab administration fees may apply. A medical provider will review your prescription request and advise you on next steps.

What insurance plans are accepted for PrEP?

For PrEP prescriptions, Nurx can work with:

• Most PPO plans
• Most NY Medicaid plans
• Some California Medi-Cal plans
• Some Medicare plans (with or without Part D coverage)

We'll review your benefits with you before we finalize your prescription request. We will also advise you to check your insurance benefits directly with your insurer to verify which lab facility they prefer, and which questions to ask your insurance provider to better empower you to get your care and medication at the lowest possible cost.  Wait…I don’t see my plan listed above. What about Kaiser, the VA, or HMOs? For Truvada, we currently cannot accept:

• Kaiser
• Veterans Administration (the VA) coverage
• Most HMOs
• Most Medicaid plans outside NY & CA

For lab work to be covered, the lab order must come from either your primary care provider or a provider in your plan’s network. If you have one of these plans, you may still be able to get access to PrEP: 

• Kaiser: Your primary care provider can prescribe PrEP for you. If he or she isn’t comfortable doing so, they can refer you to an infectious disease specialist.
• The VA: Covers PrEP in full as long as your care happens in their clinics.
• HMOs: Utilize a network of providers and require care to come from within that network. The good news is that usually those networks are large, so patients have many providers to choose from.

Some insurance companies require you to use a certain set of providers or lab facilities to reduce costs on your insurance plan. If you're not sure what network or lab your insurance prefers, please check with your insurance in advance of receiving services. On the back of your insurance card, you’ll find an 800 number for customer service. Call your plan’s customer service number to ask if they require in-network providers, and if they have a preferred lab. It’s best to check on this to avoid nasty surprise bills for out of network labs or services. If you're not sure how to have this conversation with your insurance, we are happy to help, just send us a message!

Possibly. First, it helps to understand deductibles, and how they work:

What is a deductible?

The deductible is the amount you’ll be responsible for meeting out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. For example, a typical Bronze level ACA plan in California carries a $6,850 deductible, meaning you’ll pay full price for your medical care, labs and diagnostic tests, and medications until the total reaches $6,850. Then, your plan’s copays or coinsurance costs will apply.

For most people, high deductibles are difficult to meet on one’s own. 3 types of assistance plans exist to address this financial barrier, and each has specific requirements:

1. Gilead Copay Card - Gilead, the manufacturer of Truvada, offers a copay card pre-loaded with $3,600 to help with deductibles and copay costs. Individuals must be insured to be able to use this card, however, Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare patients are not eligible. There are no monthly limits. Cards are valid for 12 fills, and will reload itself every January. Amounts left on the card at the end of the year do not roll over.
2. Patient Access Network, or PAN: As of this posting, PAN grants are only available to Medicare patients who need help with their Part D coinsurance costs for HIV prevention medications.
3. Patient Advocacy Foundation, or PAF: For individuals with insurance but with high deductibles or high coinsurance costs. PAF grants have a financial eligibility limit of 400% FPL, or about $49,000 annually. If you make less than or equal to that amount and require assistance to pay for your medications, a PAF grant will help you. This grant can be combined with the Gilead copay card if necessary.

Members of the Nurx Operations team can help you enroll in any and all of these assistance programs. We’ll advise you as needed after we evaluate your plan’s coverage.

Possibly. Gilead, the manufacturer of Truvada, offers free temporary access to Truvada to those who qualify financially through their "Advancing Access" program. Enrollment in the program is awarded in 3- to 6-month increments, with a 12-month term limit. Extensions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Gilead. To qualify, you must:

1. Be a current US resident, and be able to provide proof of residency (note: legal immigration status is not required).
2. Make less than or equal to 500% FPL, or about $59,000 annually.

Gilead will accept the following things for proof of income:

1. The two most recent pay stubs if paid bi-weekly (4 paystubs if paid weekly)
2. Last year’s W2 or tax return (if you still have the same job)
3. A notarized letter outlining one’s income versus expenses.

A member of Nurx’s Operations team will assess whether or not this program is appropriate for you. If you meet the criteria listed above, we’ll fill out the application together, and Nurx will submit it on your behalf. Enrollment determination usually takes between 2-5 days. Two things to note:

1. If you are currently unemployed or make less that 138% FPL or about $16,395 annually, Gilead will grant you temporary enrollment in the program, but will ask that you apply for Medicaid. If you’re in California, Nurx can help you with that process.
2. Although Nurx can help you access the medication, you will be responsible for the full cost of the labs required to begin PrEP. The out of pocket amount varies by lab and by location. Unfortunately, no assistance programs exist to help with the cost of labs if you’re uninsured. If this isn’t an option, we’re happy to refer you to a free or low cost clinic in your area to minimize the out of pocket expense.

Your Nurx healthcare provider will order lab work at either Quest or LabCorp. These tests must be completed prior to completing the prescription process. Your healthcare provider at Nurx will order:

• Full Hepatitis B panel
• 4th generation HIV test
• Creatinine clearance test to evaluate kidney function
• 3-site STI panel

Nurx will mail you a kit with 2 swabs for you to self-collect rectal and pharyngeal samples to be dropped off at the lab when you have your blood drawn. Although this is the standard for all patients, we understand that some patients wish to be tested more frequently for STIs, and visit their local clinics outside of our care. We’re OK with that, and can even help you develop a sexual health plan that works best for you. Usually, the test results are ready in 24-48 hours. The sooner you can visit the lab, the closer you are to having Truvada delivered to your door!

Truvada is delivered by Fedex via 2-day priority shipping. A signature is required for delivery. The envelope and address are discreet and are not listed with the Nurx logo.

If you’re trying to get on PrEP and a health care provider has refused to prescribe it or your insurance won’t cover it, or if you are experiencing difficulty obtaining long term care or life insurance as a result of using PrEP, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk at 1-866-542-8336 or www.lambdalegal.org/help. Lambda Legal wants to hear about any problems people are having accessing PrEP, so we can find ways to address these potential barriers to HIV-related care.

For Truvada, users must be at least 18 years of age based on FDA requirements.

A monogamous relationship has long been perceived to be one of the key ways to reduce the individual’s risk of HIV infection.  However, according to research by Woodbury University Psychology Chair Dr. Joye Swan reported in “Monogamy, The Protective Fallacy: Sexual Versus Emotional Exclusivity and the Implications for Sexual Health Risk”, published in the Journal of Sex Research, monogamy — as practiced by couples — may actually increase the risk of infection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This risk has to do with the perception of invulnerability in a monogamous partnership. Or, more plainly put, you can only control your own encounters. Key takeaways from the study:

• More than a third of participants reported infidelity in their current self-defined “monogamous” relationship
• Those in “monogamous” relationships reported using condoms significantly less than individuals in self-defined non-monogamous relationships
• Sample of more than 650 included 373 heterosexual college students and 282 gay men

“The research is quite profound and certainly flies in the face of convention. The important message is that monogamy, as practiced in the real world, could increase risk of HIV or other STI infection,” says Dr. Swan.

Please reach out to us at info@nurx.co. Our Doctors are licensed clinicians serving your state and most are specialized in an area related to Nurx services.

Nurx is always on the lookout for partner opportunities, both partnering pharmacies and organizations. Email us at info@nurx.co.

When taken as prescribed by the physician, birth control pills are over 99% effective.

Nurx relieves your primary care physician from certain tasks that our doctors can take care of in a more convenient way. We still believe that a primary care physician plays a key role in providing good healthcare. You should still see your primary care physician for annual checkups and if you have a concern about your health.

Nurx provides a new way for you to communicate with a doctor, but it does not replace them. When you make a request through our platform, the request is sent to a real live doctor in your state who will provide you the best possible care.

Neither the pill the patch or the ring protect against STIs. Condoms are an excellent way of protecting against STIs. Using condoms in conjunction with another form of birth control provides excellent protections against pregnancy and STIs.

When taken as prescribed, birth control pills are over 99% effective.