Frequently Asked Questions

• Insertion of implant or IUD
• Removal of IUD or implant, pregnancy test, Pap test, and any additional labs as it relates to your birth control appointment
• Follow-up care for your IUD or implant
• Annual Wellness Visit
• Telehealth birth control pills (combination pills or progestin-only pills)

To see the full list of our covered services, click here.

Generous private donors, organizations, and foundations provide financial support to help us make birth control free and accessible to anyone in our service area.

If you are interested in making a donation to A Step Ahead Chattanooga, please visit our donate page. If you are interested in volunteering, please our volunteer opportunities page to learn more.

No, we serve anyone who lives or goes to school in any of the following 18 counties:

If you do not live or attend school in the counties listed above, you may be eligible for services at one of the other A Step Ahead affiliates. Some services and coverage options may vary depending on your location.

Click here to view the full affiliate map.

No, you don't need insurance. We will pay the full cost if you are uninsured. Click here to see our covered services. For clients with insurance, our partnered clinics will bill your private insurance first. We will take care of any co-pays and deductibles, ensuring that there is no out-of-pocket cost for you.

If you have received a bill from one of our partnered clinics after your birth control appointment, please reach out to [email protected] with a copy of the bill you received, and our operations team will work with you to get it taken care of. Make sure that the copy of the bill includes the date of service and description of services.

The birth control methods we cover include IUDs, implants, and telehealth birth control pills. At this time, we do not cover any other methods.

We are working on expanding to cover additional short-acting methods like the patch and the ring. If you are interested in a method that we do not yet cover, we encourage you to reach out to your local health department, where you can access other methods of contraception at reduced or no cost to you.

Yes, we will pay for your IUD or implant removal regardless of whether you receive a new device.

No, we are a prevention-only program. We do not cover emergency contraception and we do not make referrals for emergency contraception.

Yes, you may be eligible to receive birth control without parental consent through our telehealth partner, depending on your location and circumstances:

• If you are 13 or older and live in Georgia, or 14 or older and live in Alabama, you can access birth control without parental consent.

If you live in Tennessee and are under 18, you may access birth control without parental consent under the following conditions as per the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act:

• You are legally emancipated.
  You will be required to provide documentation to our telehealth partner.
• You are married.
  You will be required to provide your marriage license to our telehealth partner.
• You are a current or former member of the military, U.S. armed forces, reserves, or national guard.
  You will be required to provide documentation to our telehealth partner.
• You are the parent of a minor child and have full custody of that child.
  You will be required to provide documentation to our telehealth partner.

If you do not meet any of these conditions, parental consent will be required. Once you begin the medical questionnaire, you will be prompted to provide any additional documentation if you fall within one of these conditions.

Call 423-265-7837 to schedule an appointment with one of our partnered clinics. We will connect you and answer any questions you may have.

Appointments with our partnered clinics are made from 10 am – 4 pm EST, Monday – Thursday. If you call after hours, leave us a message, and we will get back to you within 3 business days. Calls may be returned anytime Monday – Thursday from 9 am – 5 pm EST.

Our office will be closed for the following holidays:

Visit our telehealth birth control page to learn about the process and decide whether you'd like to call our appointment line or complete the intake form online.

Yes, we offer free transportation assistance and gas cards to help you get to and from your appointments at our partnered clinics. Free Uber rides are available for Hamilton County residents who are 18 or older, or who have someone 18 or older riding with them. Gas cards are available for all clients in our service area. Information about transportation support can be found in the text or email you received from ASAC after calling the appointment line.

An IUD is a small T-shaped device that is placed in the uterus by a healthcare provider. Once it is in, you cannot feel it. There are two types of IUDs: the non-hormonal–copper IUD and the hormonal–levonorgestrel IUD. You can learn more about IUDs here.

An implant is a small, flexible rod placed in the arm by a healthcare provider. The implant uses a hormone called Levonorgestrel (Progestin) to prevent pregnancy. You can learn more about the implant here.

No, IUDs and implants do not protect you from STIs. Only condoms can prevent STIs. If you'd like us to send you FREE condoms by mail, please fill out this request form here.