Please select a category or scroll down to browse frequently asked questions for the ABC Plan. If your question is not answered here, please contact Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) at 877-686-5772 for more information.  

Enrolling & Eligibility

ENROLLING & ELIGIBILITY

Where can I sign up?
The ABC Plan is available at PPLM’s Boston and Somerville health centers. Please call 1-800-258-4448 or request an appointment online.

Who can sign up?
All patients who have a prescription for birth control pills from PPLM and do not use an insurance plan to cover their birth control prescriptions.

What methods are eligible for the ABC Plan?
Birth control pills are $24 per cycle with the ABC Plan. If you use Yaz, you can sign up to have the pills mailed to you but your monthly cost is still $50 per cycle. The patch and the ring are not eligible for the ABC Plan.

Can I sign up online or over the phone?
No. At this time, only in-person enrollment is available. We look forward to having online and phone enrollment in the future.

I already have a prescription for birth control pills that I got from PPLM, but I don’t have a whole year left. Can I sign up for the ABC Plan?
Yes. If your prescription from PPLM still has 6 or more refills left, you can sign up for the ABC Plan for the rest of your prescription. Please come in to sign the contract - no appointment is needed.

I take birth control pills but my prescription isn’t from PPLM. Can I sign up for the ABC Plan?
No. Your prescription needs to be from PPLM to sign up for the ABC Plan.

Can I get the discount on my pills if I don’t sign up for the ABC Plan?
No, you need to sign up for the ABC Plan to get the discount. If you want to buy 6 or more packs at once but don’t want to sign up for the ABC Plan, you can purchase them at a discount.

Can I sign up later if I didn’t sign up for the ABC Plan at my visit to PPLM?
Yes. You can sign up for the ABC Plan as long as you have a prescription for birth control pills from PPLM that has at least 6 months of refills remaining. You will need to come to PPLM to sign the contract at reception, but you do not need to have an appointment to sign up.

Can I get my pills mailed to me without signing up for the ABC Plan?
Yes. You can request pills by mail through our online request system or by calling us at 1-800-258-4448. They are not eligible for the discounted price.

I already get my pills by mail from PPLM. Do I need to sign up for the ABC Plan?
No. You can continue to receive pills by mail without signing up for the ABC Plan, but they are not eligible for the discounted price unless you enroll in the program.

Can I sign up for the ABC Plan and use my insurance?
No. You can only sign up for the ABC Plan if you choose to pay for your birth control pills without using insurance to cover your prescription. PPLM looks forward to making the ABC Plan available to patients who use insurance for birth control in the next year.

Can I sign up if I have MassHealth?
No. MassHealth allows you to receive up to 15 packs of birth control at the time of your visit to PPLM. You are not charged a co-pay for birth control. Because of this, you are not eligible to sign up for the ABC Plan.

How will I know when I need to get a new prescription for birth control?
PPLM will notify you to schedule an appointment to get a new prescription before your current prescription runs out. Your last mailing of pills will also include a written reminder.

PAYMENT DETAILS

What will I be charged each month?
Your monthly charge is $24. If you use Yaz, your charge will be $50/month. If you take your birth control pills continuously (without a period between packs), please ask about cost at your appointment or call PPLM at 1-800-258-4448 to discuss how you will be billed.

What types of payment can I use for the ABC Plan?
You will need a credit or debit card. PPLM accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express. Please make sure to bring the card to PPLM when you sign up for the program.

When will I be charged for my birth control?
You will pay for your first pack of birth control at PPLM on the day you sign up for the ABC Plan. Two weeks later, your card will be charged for your next cycle of pills. That date will be the date you are charged going forward.
Example: You sign up for the ABC Plan on April 1st. You pay for your first pack of birth control on April 1st. Your second cycle is charged on April 15th. You will be charged on or around the 15th of the month for all of your refills until the end of your prescription.

Will my refills be charged to my credit card on the same day every month?
The payment will be taken on the same day, though the date may vary by 2 days if the usual day falls on a holiday or Sunday.

What if my credit/debit card information changes?
Please call PPLM at 1-800-258-4448 to notify us of any billing changes as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to contact PPLM if your card is lost or stolen, if your billing address changes, or if the card is no longer active. Changes to your information must be received 3-4 weeks before your next mailing is scheduled to make sure that your payments are made and your pills arrive on time. If your payment cannot be processed on the card you provided, PPLM will call you and send a letter notifying you that your card was declined. If you cannot provide a new credit card for payment, we will send a bill for any cycles that were sent to you before payment was received and will stop mailing your refills. To prevent this, please call us at 1-800-258-4448 as soon as your billing information changes.

What if the credit/debit card I want to use is not in my name?
The card holder must be present to sign the contract and authorize the recurring payment on the card.

What happens if my credit/debit card is declined?
If your payment cannot be processed on the card you provided, PPLM will call you and send a letter notifying you that your card was declined. If you cannot provide a new credit card for payment, we will send a bill for any cycles that were sent to you before payment was received and will stop mailing your refills. To prevent this, please call PPLM at 800-258-4448 as soon as your billing information changes.

What if I want to cancel the ABC Plan?
Please call PPLM at 1-800-258-4448. You can cancel your contract at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

SHIPPING DETAILS

How often are my pills mailed to me?
PPLM will mail 3 cycles at a time. Shipping is free! You must notify PPLM at 1-800-258-4448 of any changes in your contract information 3-4 weeks before your next scheduled mailing to make sure your pills arrive on time and at the right address.

What kind of packaging will the pills be mailed in?
Your pills will be delivered directly to you in plain packaging – the outside will not identify the contents of the package or list PPLM as the sender.

What if my mailing address changes?
You must notify PPLM of any changes in your contract information as soon as possible. Changes must be received 3-4 weeks before your next scheduled mailing to make sure your pills arrive at your new address on time. Please call us at 1-800-258-4448 to discuss changes.

What if I travel out of town and want my pills to be mailed to a different address?
If you will need shipment to a different address temporarily, you must contact PPLM prior to the change to your new address and again when you change back to your primary address. Make sure to allow 3-4 weeks for the changes to be made. Please call us at 800-258-4448 to discuss changes.

Can I come to PPLM and pick up my pills before they are mailed?
No. You will not be able to pick up pills if you are signed up for the ABC Plan – your refills will only be available by mail. You can cancel your contract at any if you would prefer to pick up your refills at $30 per pack. Please call us at 1-800-258-4448 to discuss options if you are no longer able to have pills mailed to you.

How can I find out when my refills were mailed?
Your birth control pills will be mailed to you two weeks before you need to start your next pack. Please call us at 800-258-4448 if you have questions about delivery.

What if my pills do not arrive on time?
Please call PPLM at 800-258-4448 if you are concerned that you pills have not arrived and you are due to start your next pack of pills.

CHANGING YOUR CONTRACT

What if I need to change my pill or switch to a different method of birth control?
Please call PPLM at 1-800-258-4448 to talk to a clinician about changing your birth control.

Can I cancel my contract after I sign up for the ABC Plan?
Yes, you can cancel at any time, for any reason, without penalty. Please call us at 1-800-258-4448 to cancel. If you continue to get your pills through PPLM after canceling, you can pay the monthly rate of $30 per cycle.

What if my insurance changes?
The ABC Plan is only available if you pay for your birth control without insurance. If you are enrolled in the program and would like to start using insurance to pay for your birth control, you can cancel your contract at any time. PPLM looks forward to making the ABC Plan available to patients who use insurance for birth control in the next year.