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Nurx is a telemedicine company that offers birth control prescriptions, emergency contraception, and home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and COVID-19. It also offers prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products and general health treatments, including those for oral herpes and migraine.
All prescriptions are written by a licensed healthcare professional in your state and delivered directly to you. Nurx uses an accredited lab for sample testing. It also uses licensed pharmacies, which you can double-check here.
While Nurx shouldn’t be a replacement for your regular doctor, it can still be a convenient way to access basic healthcare when you need it. Here’s what else you should know about Nurx.
Pros
- wide range of services provided, including those for sexual health, skin care, and migraine relief
- designed to be affordable, convenient, accessible, and discreet
- three-step system is straightforward
- available to those without health insurance
- shipping is always free
Cons
- reviews are mixed, with a number of complaints relating to poor customer service, shipping issues, and difficulties with account cancellation
- not available in all 50 states
- not assessed by a healthcare professional in person
Nurx is designed to be easy and affordable, no matter which service you choose. While there may be some minor differences based on your needs, here’s what you’ll do in a nutshell.
Input your info
From Nurx’s website or app, you’ll choose what services you’re interested in. Then, you’ll answer a couple questions about your health history and give your insurance info if you have it.
If you don’t have insurance, you can still use Nurx by paying out of pocket.
Pay a consultation fee
Next, you’ll pay a consultation fee to have a medical professional review your info. The fee will vary depending on the health service you’re accessing.
For example, a medical consultation for birth control is $15. For acne treatments, the consultation fee is $35. The consultation fee for headache care is $60.
After you’ve paid, a professional from Nurx’s medical team will look over everything and write a medically appropriate prescription or place an order for your tests.
Once you pay the consultation fee, you’ll have unlimited access to a Nurx medical professional for a full year — just in case you have questions about your diagnosis, prescriptions, or aftercare.
Get your delivery
Sit back and relax — there’s no need to head to the doctor or pharmacy in person. Instead, your order will be shipped free and arrive at your door in discreet packaging.
Usually, you’ll get your delivery in about 3 to 5 business days. However, some online reviewers have noted their prescriptions took significantly longer to arrive.
Right now, Nurx is available in 37 states. Due to legislation prohibiting at-home collection and testing, home test kits can’t be sent to users in New York.
Nurx offers more than 50 types of birth control, including:
- name-brand and generic pills
- the patch
- the vaginal ring
- the birth control shot
Once you’ve paid the consultation fee and placed your order, you’ll get a 3-month supply. Nurx refills and ships your prescription automatically, but you can cancel anytime.
You should be aware that all initial orders are final once you complete checkout. That means they can’t be canceled. To avoid being charged for a refill, you’ll need to cancel within 48 hours of receiving a reminder message that a refill is being prepared.
You can cancel an order and deactivate your Nurx account by contacting customer care.
Compare other birth control delivery services here.
Is it right for you?
If you know what you need and want in terms of birth control, Nurx can be a quick, convenient way to get your prescription.
However, if you have questions about the best kind of birth control for you, or you usually have multiple health questions for your doctor, you may prefer a face-to-face meeting with your regular practitioner.
Cost
Cost will vary depending on your health insurance, but it should be about the same as you’d pay at an in-person pharmacy.
If you don’t have health insurance, you can contact the Nurx team to learn about birth control brands that start at $15 per month.
We tried Nurx birth control
Brooke Murad, our product senior associate, used this service to get a new birth control prescription. After explaining why she was unhappy with her current birth control on the Nurx questionnaire, she says, “They did start me on a different brand based on a recommendation from one of their doctors. It has been working very well for me so far.”
In addition, she says Nurx was:
- “cheaper than my OB-GYN copay and took my insurance for the product”
- “extremely quick and thorough through each step of the process, even the steps involving back and forth communication with a doctor”
- “fast to ship once I had submitted everything they needed and made their product recommendation”
“I have used Nurx for almost a year now, and refills are also incredibly easy,” she adds. “They remind me when the refill is coming up and confirm my medical information, insurance, and address.”
Nurx offers both prescription and nonprescription emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill. These include ella and Plan B.
Is it right for you?
One thing to keep in mind is that emergency contraception are most effective if they’re taken within 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex.
Nurx offers overnight delivery for prescription-only ella for $15. If you go with New Day, your Nurx professional can call in a request to your local pharmacy to make sure you get your emergency contraception quickly.
You can also use Nurx to have emergency contraception on hand in case your regular birth control method fails or isn’t available.
Cost
Emergency contraception from Nurx can be free with insurance or as low as $20 without insurance.
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily medication that helps prevent HIV.
Nurx offers both Truvada and Descovy, which are the two brands of PrEP approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Is it right for you?
The
Nurx will send you an HIV testing kit from one of its partner labs. You’ll follow the directions to collect your samples and send them back for screening. If you’d rather do your lab work in person, that’s also an option.
Once your results are in, a Nurx professional will review them to figure out if PrEP is a good choice for you. If it is, Nurx will send you a 3-month supply of daily pills. You’ll also need to complete lab tests every 3 months.
Cost
If you request a PrEP evaluation, you’ll pay a $15 medical consultation. You’ll pay this fee every time you order a new test and evaluation for renewal of your prescription.
If you’re paying with insurance, the cost of your home tests will be billed to your insurance, and you’ll be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs, including co-pays and deductibles, depending on your coverage. The prescription itself is usually covered in full by insurance.
Without insurance, you’ll pay $94 for HIV testing or $164 for comprehensive testing that includes both HIV and other STIs. Nurx works with several payment assistance programs that subsidize some costs of PrEP, but not the lab tests.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common STI in the United States, according to the
There are more than
Is it right for you?
An HPV screening test determines your risk for cervical cancer and is
While HPV screening can be performed during routine Pap smears, it can also be done separately. You can order a test from Nurx and get a kit in the mail. It’s a quick, painless swab.
You’ll return your sample with the prepaid label and box to the Nurx partner lab. The Nurx medical team will review your results and cover next steps.
A negative result means no high-risk HPV strains were detected, and your risk for developing cervical cancer is low.
A positive result isn’t a cancer diagnosis. Instead, it’s an indication that you’re at a greater risk for getting cervical cancer and should follow up with your doctor.
Cost
The home HPV test kit starts at $49 with insurance or a flat fee of $79 without insurance. There’s also a $15 medical consultation fee. Both fees include the test kit, lab tests and results, shipping, and prepaid return.
Nurx offers three STI home test kits:
- Full Control Kit
- Healthy V Kit
- Basics Covered Kit
Each kit includes detailed instructions for safely collecting and packing samples to avoid contamination or compromise during transit.
Is it right for you?
If you’re not sure what to get tested for, or if you’re having any unusual symptoms, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional in person. Otherwise, home test kits can be convenient.
The Full Control Kit is designed for people who haven’t been tested for STIs in more than a year (or ever). It tests for:
The Healthy V Kit tests for:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- HIV
- syphilis
- trichomoniasis
The Basics Covered Kit is best for people who have been recently tested but need a checkup. It tests for:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- HIV
- syphilis
Learn more about home testing versus in-person testing here.
Cost
Here’s the price breakdown for each kit without insurance. These fees cover the test kit, lab work, and shipping:
- Full Control Kit: $220
- Healthy V Kit: $190
- Basics Covered Kit: $150
With insurance, each test kit is $75, which includes the test kit and shipping. Nurx’s partner lab will bill your insurance for any additional testing costs.
If the lab is out of network with your insurance, the testing fee will be $99. If they’re in network, fees will vary. There’s also a $15 medical consultation fee paid out of pocket whether you have insurance or not.
All lab work is completed at Molecular Testing Labs, an accredited lab that meets the U.S. government’s highest standards of quality and safety.
Your personal information is kept anonymous and protected in accordance with HIPAA.
Nurx prescribes the antiviral medication Valacyclovir to those who have already had a genital or oral herpes diagnosis. The pill can be taken daily as a preventative measure or when you feel an outbreak coming on to reduce symptom severity.
Is it right for you?
If you’ve already received a genital or oral herpes diagnosis, this may be a quick, easy way to access medication. After a medical consultation, a Nurx professional will evaluate your needs and prescribe a 1-year prescription if it’s considered medically appropriate.
Your prescription will be delivered quickly, and you’ll get automatic refills for 1 year unless you cancel.
Cost
You’ll start with a $15 medical consultation.
If you have insurance, you’ll pay any applicable co-pays or deductibles. Without insurance, you’ll spend $45 on a 3-month supply if you’re using Valacyclovir for outbreaks or $75 for a 3-month supply if you’re using it daily.
If you’re dealing with mild or moderate acne, hormonal acne, or body acne, Nurx may be worth considering. Medical professionals on the platform prescribe four kinds of treatment for clearer skin:
- antibiotics
- retinoids
- birth control
- spironolactone
Is it right for you?
A medical professional at Nurx will evaluate your skin and prescribe a personalized regimen. That may include a topical gel or cream, oral antibiotics, birth control, or some combination of them all.
Topical antibiotic creams are designed to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Oral antibiotics prevent these bacteria from living on the skin, but this is usually a short-term measure. If your acne is related to hormonal fluctuations, birth control pills can also be an option.
Note that Nurx does not prescribe Accutane, so this service isn’t it a good fit for anyone looking to treat severe acne.
Cost
Skin care consultations have a $35 fee that isn’t covered by insurance. Depending on the medications you’re prescribed, you might receive oral or topical products in a 1, 2, or 3-month supply.
With insurance and depending on your coverage, you may only pay out-of-pocket for copays or deductibles for both topical and oral medications.
If you don’t have insurance, topical medication pricing varies between $20 and $30 per month and oral medications are between $15 and $40, depending on the product.
It can be hard to figure out if redness and bumps on your face are a sign of rosacea or acne. Nurx offers online assessments and prescription treatments to treat both.
Is it right for you?
If you think you have rosacea, you’ll share a health and skin history and some photos on the Nurx website. A medical professional will review and then prescribe a treatment plan if it’s medically appropriate.
Your medications will then be shipped to your door. Treatments through Nurx may include topical products and an oral antibiotic.
Note that the rosacea service from Nurx is not available to people who are currently pregnant. Some medications prescribed are contraindicated for pregnancy.
It’s also not appropriate if you’re dealing with severe rosacea. You’ll need to see your doctor instead.
Cost
Skin care consultations cost $35. Depending on the treatments you’re prescribed, monthly costs will vary.
If you have insurance, you may only be responsible for the copay on your prescriptions. If you’re paying out of pocket, prices vary between $20 and $40 per month.
Nurx prescribes two kinds of retinoids to diminish the signs of aging from sun exposure.
Is it right for you?
Prescription retinoid cream can help reverse and prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. A medical professional from Nurx will review your health history and skin concerns and then prescribe a retinoid cream if it’s medically appropriate.
Cost
The medical consultation fee is $15. The topical medications Nurx prescribes are not covered by insurance. You can expect to pay $30 per month, billed as a $90 fee every 3 months.
Refills are automatic for 1 year, but you can pause or cancel at any time.
Nurx has a number of prescription medications to treat headaches and migraine.
Is it right for you?
Headache and migraine treatment with Nurx begins with a neurologist-designed assessment to determine if home treatment is appropriate. If it’s not, a Nurx professional will refer you to in-person care.
Your assessment will include a thorough health history and the filming of short videos that show you completing a specific set of movements, which provide specific information to the Nurx medical team.
If you’re a good candidate for telehealth care relating to your headaches or migraine, a Nurx medical professional will write a prescription for medication that’s either taken daily as a preventative measure or for pain relief when a headache begins.
Nausea medication is also an option. Note that Nurx doesn’t prescribe medications that are narcotic or barbiturate based.
If a Nurx professional decides you’ll benefit from a medication that Nurx doesn’t deliver, they’ll send an e-prescription to your local pharmacy for in-person pick-up.
Cost
The medical consultation fee for headache and migraine treatment is $60. That price includes the online evaluation, a headache tracker, and scheduled check-ins.
If you have insurance, you may only need to pay your copay for the medications.
If you don’t have insurance, a 3-month supply of medication varies between $25 and $70 per month, depending on which you’re prescribed and how often you need to take it. Shipping is free.
Nurx offers two over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that can be taken at home with verified results in under 30 minutes:
- Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
- Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit
Is it right for you?
The Abbott BinaxNOW test received FDA emergency use authorization for self-testing. It delivers results in 15 minutes and can be used whether you have symptoms or not.
The Abbott BinaxNOW test should be performed twice in 3 days, at least 36 hours apart. It can be used by people ages 15 and over and in children over age 2 when the sample is collected by an adult.
The Lucira Check It test kit is a PCR-quality molecular test kit that also received FDA emergency use authorization for self-testing. It can be used to test for infection before travel or social events, even if symptoms are not present.
Positive results with the Lucira Check It test can be detected in 11 minutes, and negative results are confirmed within 30 minutes. The test is indicated for people over age 14 or in children age 2 or above when an adult collects the sample.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and test negative with either of these tests, it’s important to follow up with a healthcare professional.
Cost
The Abott BinaxNOW test is available at $23.99 for a two-test set. The Lucira Check It test is $75.
Nurx offers general and sexual health services for people seeking remote access to healthcare. It’s a good fit for people who have a primary doctor they see for physical check-ups but want a convenient, affordable alternative to an in-office visit for certain health needs.
Nurx is also a good option for people who want prescription birth control, or other available medications, delivered to their door. Nurx can be used with or without health insurance.
| Nurx | Hers | Wisp | SimpleHealth | |
| Products and services | – sexual health – skin care – headache and migraine relief – COVID-19 testing |
– sexual health – skin care – hair care – mental health -supplements |
– sexual health – COVID-19 testing – mental health – other health conditions |
– birth control – other reproductive health |
| Cost | $–$$$ | $–$$$ | $–$$$ | $ |
| Accepts insurance | yes | yes | – some lab tests may be covered – HSA and FSA may apply |
yes |
| Customer ratings | good | good | excellent | good |
| State availability | 37 states | all U.S. states | all U.S. states | 32 states |
In 2019, an article in The New York Times reported that some returned, but unopened, prescription birth control pills at Nurx were reshipped to new customers.
The company released a statement indicating this practice ended in 2018 and that it occurred with a very small fraction of its 1 million orders processed since 2015.
The same article noted that Nurx executives had attempted to revise a birth control policy for women over 35 years old. State medical laws usually prevent those without medical licenses from influencing medical policy.
Nurx hired new leadership, including a new chief executive, and argued that the actions of former employees weren’t an accurate reflection of its current operation.
In terms of customer reviews, the feedback is generally positive. There are thousands of people who find Nurx to be both convenient and timesaving. Over 25,000 reviews on the Nurx website give it an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
On Trustpilot, a third-party review website, Nurx has a 3.4 average rating out of 5 stars. Positive reviews mention ease of use and professionalism of the medical team.
At the Better Business Bureau, Nurx has an A+ rating and averages 2 stars out of 5 with customer reviews. There are more negative reviews here. People cite lengthy delays and sudden changes in available prescriptions. Other unhappy customers mention issues with poor customer service, difficulties canceling subscriptions, and problems with insurance billing.
Does Nurx take insurance?
You can pay for Nurx services with insurance, or you can pay out of pocket.
If you pay for Nurx prescriptions and tests with insurance, you’ll be responsible for any copays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs associated with your specific plan’s level of coverage.
Regardless of insurance, you’ll always pay the consultation fee out of pocket. This fee doesn’t cover the cost of your prescriptions.
How long does Nurx take to review and prescribe medications when appropriate?
If you’ve submitted all the information the Nurx medical team needs, prescriptions or test orders should be ready in 3 to 5 business days.
Medications typically arrive within 3 to 5 business days. Expedited delivery services are available if you contact the Nurx team.
Is Nurx legitimate?
Yes, Nurx is a legitimate telehealth service with licensed medical professionals, pharmacies, and labs.
Where is Nurx available?
At this time, Nurx is available in 37 states. You can read the list here.
Nurx can save you time and hassle if you want to refill birth control, access emergency contraceptives, or order home test kits for common STIs or COVID-19. It’s also an option if you’re looking to treat other health concerns, including acne, rosacea, and migraine.
When inputting your information and talking with a Nurx medical professional, it’s important to be completely honest about your health history to avoid potential complications with any prescriptions.
Keep in mind that Nurx isn’t a substitute for annual visits to your gynecologist or healthcare professional, but it can offer convenience and minimize unnecessary visits for prescription refills or testing.
Jessica Timmons has been working as a freelance writer since 2007, covering everything from pregnancy and parenting to cannabis, chiropractic, stand-up paddling, fitness, martial arts, home decor, and much more. Her work has appeared in mindbodygreen, Pregnancy & Newborn, Modern Parents Messy Kids, and Coffee + Crumbs. See what she’s up to now at jessicatimmons.com.
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