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Nurx is an online healthcare company providing birth control, skin care treatments, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, and more. Convenient and discreet home delivery can help people 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 has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has closed 127 complaints in the last 3 years.
As of February 2022, the brand has a score of 2.14 out of 5 based on 273 customer reviews on the platform. Positive reviews are few on its BBB page. An early review praises the company’s up-to-date medication filling, medical representative availability, and good communication.
However, negative reviews frequently mention issues with cancellations, payment charges without permission, delayed shipping, charging without providing service, difficult account cancellation, and poor customer service and communication.
Nurx covers various health treatments and screenings, including:
Acne treatment
Nurx sells different kinds of oral medications, gels, and creams to control acne, including different types of antibiotics. If individuals have insurance, the cost could be as low as the copayment once any applicable deductible is paid. Without insurance, costs range from $20–40 per month.
Rosacea skin care
Tretinoin acid, also known as retinoic acid, or synthetic vitamin A, is in three different concentrations and six different medications, cleaners, and gels to treat rosacea.
Birth control
A person buying birth control from Nurx can choose between the contraceptive pill, ring, patch, or a shot taken every 3 months. The cost could be as low as a copayment for those with insurance, but for those without, the costs vary by a person’s chosen method. For example, the lowest cost is for the contraceptive pill at $15 per pack, and the higher cost patch starts from $180 per month.
Emergency contraception
Nurx offers New Day — an over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraceptive medication that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 3 days after a person has sex without a condom or other barrier method. New Day costs $20 per pill.
Nurx also sells Ella, a prescription medication that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 5 days after a person has unprotected sex. Ella may be free-of-charge to those who have insurance, with the only possible cost being the medical consultation. The out-of-pocket cost for Ella is $45 per pill.
PrEP for HIV prevention
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is for people who are HIV-negative. It is 99% effective at preventing HIV infection. To purchase this medication from Nurx, a person must first complete either Basic or Complete screening. These tests are available from Nurx for either $94 or $164 for those paying out of pocket.
The Nurx website does not say how much PrEP medication costs out-of-pocket, but 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 painkillers such as gepants, triptans, antinausea medication, anticonvulsive medication, beta-blockers, and antidepressants. The company also sells supplements that it claims help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine episodes.
A person purchasing treatments for headaches and migraine from Nurx will first pay for a $60 medical consultation. If they have 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.
Oral and genital herpes
For oral herpes, Nurx offers OTC, doctor-recommended cold sore creams that cost $20–25 per container. Valacyclovir is a prescription medication used to reduce the frequency, severity, and chances of transmitting herpes simplex or herpes zoster.
Individuals pay between $45–75 for valacyclovir, and insurance may cover the medication cost minus any applicable copayment. There is also a $15 consultation fee.
COVID-19 testing
Nurx sells two different types of tests for COVID-19. One is a rapid antigen test that delivers results in 15 minutes, and another PCR-quality molecular test that delivers results in 30 minutes. A person does not need a prescription to order these tests.
One rapid antigen test costs $19, or 25 tests cost $450. The PCR-quality test costs $75 each.
HPV home screening
The Nurx Home HPV Test screens for the 14 strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that are most closely linked to a higher risk of cervical cancer. According to the
Everyone using the Nurx HPV Home Test first pays $15 for a consultation. People without insurance pay $79 for the test.
If a person has insurance, they pay $49 for the test kit. Nurx then bills the insurance company after processing their tests.
STI testing
Nurx offers three different STI test kits with a urine sample and finger prick blood spot card.
Prices for The Basics Covered Kit start from $75. The kit tests for:
The Full Control Kit covers the same four tests, plus Hepatitis C. It includes a urine sample, throat swab, rectal swab, and finger prick. Again, prices start from $75.
The Healthy V Kit tests for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. It costs between $75–220.
Fertility and pregnancy
Nurx sells OTC pregnancy, ovulation, and sperm quality tests, as well as prenatal multivitamins.
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.
Choose a service
People can access services and create their accounts through the Nurx website or iOS and Android apps.
After choosing a service or product they are interested in purchasing, individuals need to indicate the home state they live in, provide their email address, and give their consent to telehealth.
Complete a medical history
Customers need to answer a comprehensive set of health questions about their medical history concerning the test or medication they wish to purchase.
They also need to provide photos of their face if they want to buy acne or anti-aging treatments. A person also needs to upload a photo ID and supply their name and date of birth before proceeding to payment.
Medical consultation
Customers need to pay for a medical consultation once they submit their request.
The fee for medical consultation varies per service line and ranges from $15–60, which covers:
- an evaluation of a person’s medical history
- requests by state-licensed medical practitioners
- prescriptions, if needed
- personalized treatment plans
- scheduled follow-ups
- unlimited 1-year messaging with the Nurx medical team
Checkout and delivery
The customer then proceeds to the checkout stage. A state-licensed healthcare professional will review their health assessment, give them a prescription, order their products, and arrange delivery of the medications or testing kits.
The company will then ship the person’s prescription or kit for free, and it arrives in discreet packaging. Home test kits also come with a prepaid return shipping label.
Nurx ships prescription drugs from partner pharmacies that are fully licensed to dispense medications to their state. The company partners with Molecular Testing Labs (MTL) for its home testing kits.
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 the out-of-pocket price and estimated insurance price. The final insurance cost varies depending on the person’s insurance coverage.
An individual 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.
The following brands are similar alternatives to Nurx:
- The Pill Club: This birth control provider has 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 hair products, medications for anxiety and depression, and birth control pills.
| Nurx | The Pill Club | Simple Health | Hers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatments and services | acne family planning birth control oral and genital herpes migraine and headaches | birth control emergency contraception cold sores genital herpes | birth control emergency contraception cold sores genital herpes | hair loss acne mental health conditions birth control urinary tract infections yeast infections cold sores genital herpes |
| 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 | prescription mental health medications various birth control options sex toys lubricants supplements |
| Medical consultation options | online consultation required, costing between $15–45 | 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 |
Here, we look at some common questions about Nurx.
Is Nurx safe to use?
Yes. 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 are encouraged to consult their doctor before consulting with Nurx.
How long does Nurx take to process?
As soon as 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, while individuals can also opt 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 offers prescriptions and home test kits through its website or mobile app. It also provides online consultations, free shipping, and automatic prescription refills.
There are mixed online customer reviews for Nurx, with common complaints focusing on shipping and customer service issues. However, a positive review praises the convenience and discreet nature of the company’s services and delivery.