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Nurx is an online healthcare company providing birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, skin care treatments, and more. The company offers convenient and discreet home delivery, allowing people to access healthcare services remotely.
This article discusses the Nurx brand, its products and services, the advantages and drawbacks of using Nurx products, and alternative prescription medication services.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Todayfollows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Nurx is a viable option for anyone who wants healthcare on demand, particularly online access to doctors, testing, and treatments.
Nurx offers a range of services, including:
- women’s health
- birth control
- STI screening
- HIV prevention
- dermatology
- migraines
- mental health
A clear advantage of Nurx is that people do not need to wait in line for a doctor or prescription. Consumers can also get automatic refills and generic medication to save money when paying out-of-pocket.
However, Nurx has practical limitations and does not cater to every condition. For example, receiving a prescription can take up to 72 hours. This makes it unsuitable for individuals requiring urgent care.
Nurx offers a range of health screenings and treatments. Some examples are outlined below.
Acne treatment
Nurx sells various products to help manage acne, including:
- oral medications
- topical gels and creams
- antibiotics
For people with insurance, the cost could be as low as the copayment once the person pays any applicable deductible. Without insurance, fees start from around $20 per month.
Rosacea skin care
Nurx offers rosacea treatments containing tretinoin acid or retinoic acid in three different concentrations.
These products are available as medications, cleansers, and gels.
Learn more about rosacea treatments here.
Birth control
A person buying birth control from Nurx can choose from the following options:
- contraceptive pill
- contraceptive patch
- contraceptive ring
- an injectable that the person takes every 3 months
The cost of birth control could be as low as a copayment for people with insurance.
For those without insurance, the costs vary according to their chosen birth control method. For example, the lowest price is for the contraceptive pill at $15 per pack, while the highest price is for the patch, which starts from $180 per month.
Learn about other places to get birth control online here.
Emergency contraception
Nurx offers “New Day”, an over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraceptive medication. The medication can prevent pregnancy if a person takes it within 3 days of having sex without a condom or other barrier method. New Day costs $14.99 per pill.
Nurx also sells Ella, a prescription medication that can prevent pregnancy if a person takes it within 5 days of having sex without protection. For those with insurance, Ella may be free-of-charge, though some may have to pay the cost of the medical consultation. The out-of-pocket cost for Ella is $45 per pill.
PrEP for HIV prevention
Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is for people who are HIV-negative. It is 99% effective at preventing HIV infection.
Learn more about PrEP medication here.
To purchase this medication from Nurx, a person must complete either Basic or Complete screening. These tests are available from Nurx and cost $94 for those with insurance, or $164 for those paying out of pocket.
The Nurx website does not say how much PrEP medication costs out-of-pocket. The company states it works with payment assistance programs to help individuals with costs.
Headache and migraine
Nurx sells six different medications for treating migraine, including:
The company also sells supplements that it claims help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine episodes.
When purchasing treatments for headaches and migraine through Nurx, a person will first pay for a $60 medical consultation. If the person has insurance that covers the medications, they may only pay their copayment. The out-of-pocket costs range from $25–70 per month, depending on the type and frequency of the headaches.
Learn about home remedies for migraine relief here.
Oral and genital herpes
For oral herpes, Nurx offers OTC, doctor-recommended cold sore creams costing $20–25 per container.
Nurx also offers the prescription medication Valacyclovir, which reduces the severity and frequency of cold sores and the chance of transmitting the herpes simplex or herpes zoster viruses.
The cost is between $45–75 for a 3-month supply of Valacyclovir, plus a $15 consultation fee. A person’s insurance may cover the medication cost minus any applicable copayment.
COVID-19 testing
Nurx sells two types of tests for COVID-19; a rapid antigen test that delivers results in 15 minutes and a PCR-quality molecular test that provides results in 30 minutes. A person does not need a prescription to order these tests.
A person can purchase one rapid antigen test for $19, or 25 tests for $225. The PCR-quality test costs $89 each.
Learn more about at-home COVID-19 tests here.
HPV home screening
The Nurx Home HPV Test screens for the 14 strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.
According to the
Everyone using the Nurx HPV Home Test screening service must pay $15 for a consultation. People with insurance pay $49 for the test kit, and Nurx then bills the insurance company after processing the tests. People without insurance must pay $79 for the test.
Learn more about at-home HPV tests here.
STI testing
Nurx offers three different STI test kits, and the prices for each may be as low as $75 for those with insurance.
These different STI test kits are outlined below:
The Basics Covered Kit
Prices for The Basics Covered Kit start from $75. The kit tests for:
The kit includes a urine sample container and a finger prick device.
The Full Control Kit
The Full Control Kit covers the same four tests as the Basics Covered Kit, plus Hepatitis C.
It includes the following contents:
- a urine sample container
- a finger prick device
- a throat swab
- a rectal swab
The Healthy V Kit
The Healthy V Kit tests for the following:
- HIV
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- syphilis
- trichomoniasis
Learn more about at-home STI testing here.
Fertility and pregnancy
Nurx sells OTC tests for the following:
Learn about the best at-home ovulation and fertility tests here.
The company also sells prenatal multivitamins.
Mental health
Nurx offers anxiety and depression treatments but does not provide counseling or ongoing therapy sessions.
People must pay around $55 monthly for continuous treatment, including medication. This is the case even if there are months in which the individual does not communicate with their healthcare team.
Below, we explain how a person can order a product or kit from Nurx. Fees and processes may differ depending on the product or service.
1. Choose a service
A person can access services and create an account via the Nurx website or through iOS and Android apps.
After a person has chosen their desired service or product, they need to:
- indicate their home state
- provide their email address
- give their consent to telehealth
2. Complete a medical history
Customers need to answer a comprehensive set of questions regarding their medical history relating to the test or medication they wish to purchase. Anyone who wants to purchase dermatological treatments must also provide photos of their skin.
A person must also upload a photo ID and supply their name and date of birth before proceeding to payment.
3. Medical consultation
Customers need to pay for a medical consultation once they submit their request.
The fee for a medical consultation varies according to the service but ranges from $15–60. This covers the following:
- an evaluation of the person’s medical history
- requests from state-licensed medical practitioners
- prescriptions, if needed
- personalized treatment plans
- scheduled follow-ups
- unlimited 1-year messaging with the Nurx medical team
4. Checkout and delivery
Following the medical consultation, the customer proceeds to the checkout stage. A state-licensed healthcare professional will then:
- review the person’s health assessment
- write a prescription
- order the person’s products
- arrange delivery of the medications or testing kits
The company will then ship the person’s test kit or prescription for free. The product will arrive in discreet packaging.
Home test kits also come with a prepaid return shipping label. The company partners with Molecular Testing Labs (MTL) for its home testing kits.
Nurx ships prescription drugs from partner pharmacies that are fully licensed to dispense medications to their state. Nurx usually sends people a 3-month supply of medications. However, it can also send a 1-month supply if the person’s insurance only pays for 1 month at a time. In these cases, a $5 processing fee applies.
Payment and insurance
Each of Nurx’s product pages shows both out-of-pocket and estimated insurance prices. The final insurance cost varies depending on the person’s insurance coverage.
People may opt to pay the out-of-pocket price or go through their insurance. Nurx accepts online payments from Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. People can also pay using their Family Savings Account and Health Savings Account.
Nurx accepts most private health insurance for medications. However, a person needs to pay for all consultation fees out-of-pocket.
Several insurance plans are in-network with MTL for Nurx’s at-home testing kits. However, if a person’s plan is not in-network with MTL, it will bill them directly in addition to the fee for medical consultation.
Pros
- offers certain generic medications, including birth control pills
- offers emergency contraception
- offers at-home test kits
- offers skin care medications, including those for acne and rosacea
- provides personalized medication plans
- accepts copay and insurance
Cons
- does not offer an IUD for birth control
- does not provide Accutane prescriptions for acne
- does not provide therapy for mental health care
- can take up to 72 hours to deliver prescriptions
- can be costly without insurance
- receives low customer ratings
- receives criticisms regarding poor customer service
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize Nurx as an online health organization offering many services, including testing, prevention, and treatment.
Nurx has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has closed 218 complaints in the last 3 years. As of September 2022, the brand has a rating of 1.89 out of 5 stars based on 389 customer reviews on the platform.
On the BBB page, there are few positive reviews. An early review praises the company’s communication and medical representative availability. Negative reviews frequently mention the following issues:
- delayed shipping
- payment charges without permission
- charging customers without providing a service
- difficulties canceling accounts
- poor customer service and communication.
On TrustPilot, the company has a rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars across 260 reviews.
The following brands are similar alternatives to Nurx:
- Favor (formerly The Pill Club): Provides birth control and offers more than 120 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved branded and generic birth control pills.
- Simple Health: Provides online consultations and prescriptions, including automatic refills.
- Hers: Provides female wellness products, including birth control pills, hair products, and medications for anxiety and depression.
The table below compares the different online health services featured above:
| Nurx | Favor | Simple Health | Hers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatments and services | family planning birth control emergency contraception STI screening HIV prevention migraine and headache treatments acne and rosacea treatments treatments for mental health conditions | birth control emergency contraception | birth control emergency contraception cold sores genital herpes | birth control genital herpes cold sores yeast infections urinary tract infection (UTI) hair loss acne mental health conditions |
| Products | various birth control options emergency contraception HIV PrEP rosacea over-the-counter skincare fertility and pregnancy tests COVID-19 tests sexual health tests and screenings | Annovera Ring FC2 female condom brand name and generic birth control pills | Annovera Ring FC2 female condom brand name and generic birth control pills cold sore treatment genital herpes treatment supplements | prescription mental health medications various birth control options sex toys lubricants supplements |
| Medical consultation options | online consultation required, costing between $15 and $45 | prescribing services only offered in some states | annual, online consultation, costing $15 | annual, online consultation, costing $5 telehealth services available |
| Accepts insurance? | yes, including HSA and FSA coinsurance and copayments may apply | yes, including HSA and FSA coinsurance and copayments may apply | accepts many private insurance plans | does not accept insurance, but the company claims its prices are 50–80% less than retail |
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about Nurx.
Is Nurx safe to use?
Medical professionals licensed in the customer’s state review all requests received through Nurx. Also, prescription drugs from Nurx follow the same rules and processes as any other licensed pharmacy.
A Nurx medical professional will only prescribe medications if they are safe for a person to use, based on the medical information they provide.
However, individuals should consult their doctor before consulting with Nurx.
How long does Nurx take to process?
When the medical team reviews and approves a person’s request, one of Nurx’s partner pharmacies ships the prescription within 72 hours.
Customers can expect to receive their prescription within 3–5 business days. People also have the option to pay for expedited delivery.
Does Nurx automatically refill my birth control?
Nurx sends people a 3-month supply of prescriptions and automatically processes refills as scheduled.
Nurx is an online healthcare company offering prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and home test kits through its website or mobile app. It also provides online consultations, free shipping, and automatic prescription refills.
Nurx receives mixed online customer reviews. Common complaints focus on shipping and customer service issues. However, positive reviews praise the convenience and discreet nature of the company’s services and delivery.