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Los Angeles
OVERVIEW
As the second largest city in the US, Los Angeles has an incredible variety of resources.
Contraception
Laws & Social Stigmas
In Los Angeles, birth control pills are legal for both minors (under 18 years old) and adults. Minors do not need parental permission to obtain birth control. While you do need a prescription for birth control, this prescription can be obtained at a pharmacy. Unlike many other US states, which require that you actually visit a physician for a prescription, California (as of April 2016) does not require that you visit a physician for self-administered hormonal contraception, which includes patches, pills and vaginal rings. For birth control that requires a physician, like IUDs, you will still need to visit a doctor.
What to Get & Where to Get It
The most common pharmacies in Los Angeles are CVS and Rite-Aid. For uninsured patients, you can typically receive a prescription write-up as well as the actual medication at Planned Parenthood or low-cost clinics. If you are insured under your employer in California, there is also a very good chance that you are insured under Kaiser Permanente. Their main site, including the pharmacy, is found at 2238 Geary, but they have many facilities all over the wider Bay Area.
Costs
If you are an American citizen, your birth control exam/consultation may be covered for free, with no copay. As for birth control prices, there is no one standard price, as this greatly depends on which method is used. But, if you are uninsured, you can expect to pay between $20-$150/month supply of pills. For IUD insertion, you can expect to pay $175-600 if uninsured (or $10-$30 copay if insured).