Need a birth control prescription? There's an app for that. And it will even deliver contraceptives to your front door.
The app is called Nurx, and it's a San Francisco-based telemedicine platform. Nurx users answer a health questionnaire, upload insurance information, have a quick instant message exchange with a licensed doctor and contraceptives arrive via mail two days later (delivery is free of charge). Nurx offers various oral contraceptives, the ring, the patch, as well as emergency contraceptives and PrEP, an anti-HIV medication, in certain states. Doctors generally prescribe contraceptives for three months at a time with automatic refills. For those with health insurance, the birth control is likely free (the standard copay applies). If a customer prefers to pay out of pocket, prices start at $15 per month.
The startup launched in Illinois--its seventh market--this month, after testing with beta users. The app is also live in New York, California, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania, and they have plans to expand to Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, and Maryland next. Given telemedicine laws vary from state to state, the startup has to be sure they can operate in the state, as well as have a licensed doctor and partner pharmacy that can ship within the state before they launch.
Since launching in 2014, the startup has raised $5.4 million: A $120,000 seed round from Y Combinator (they were part of the winter 2016 batch), and a Series A round in November led by Union Square Ventures, with participation from Lowercase Capital, SV Angel and six Y Combinator partners.
Since launching in Illinois February 7, Nurx said they've seen particular interest from women in rural Illinois, where there are more likely to be "contraceptive deserts."
"In many of the rural counties in Illinois, there is a high concentration of women without publicly funded sites offering birth control. We want to make birth control accessible for everyone," said Kyle McCarthy, head of marketing at Nurx over email.
He declined to share the number of customers so far in Illinois, but noted they're seeing more interest in the state than they anticipated.
Given the Affordable Care Act, which mandates most insurance companies cover birth control and an annual prescribing appointment, is currently in question, McCarthy said they're actively looking to expand.
We want to make birth control accessible for everyone
"We are absolutely increasing our expansion efforts regardless of what happens with the ACA," said McCarthy. "If the ACA is repealed, however, Nurx will continue to serve as a low-cost option for women for birth control and continue to make it as accessible as possible."
And if the act (and the parts of it that cover birth control) is repealed, Nurx may become one of the more affordable options for birth control.
The startup is making no efforts to hide where they stand on that political debate: New users can use the the code ALTERNATIVEFACTS for $45 off contraception until the end of February.
