The White House has put forth a proposal to require health insurance to fully cover over-the-counter birth control methods like condoms, the “morning after” pill, and birth control pills for individuals with private health insurance. Currently, health insurers are mandated to cover prescribed contraception, which includes prescription-based birth control and condoms that have been prescribed by a doctor.
Under the new rule, millions of individuals with private health insurance would have access to free condoms, birth control pills, and emergency contraception from local stores without needing a prescription. This move comes just days before Election Day, with Vice President Kamala Harris linking her presidential campaign to a pledge to enhance women’s healthcare access following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to revoke nationwide abortion rights two years ago.
Jennifer Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council, stated, “Today’s announcement builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong record of defending access to reproductive health care and commitment to ensuring that women have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including if and when to start or grow their family.”
One of the emergency contraceptives that would be accessible without cost to those with private insurance is levonorgestrel, commonly known as “Plan B.” Without a prescription, women may have to pay up to $50 for a pack of these pills. Delaying the purchase to obtain a doctor’s prescription could reduce the pill’s efficacy, as it is most effective when taken within 72 hours after intercourse to prevent pregnancy.
Additionally, the proposed rule would mandate insurers to fully cover the once-a-day Opill, a new over-the-counter birth control pill authorised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, with a monthly supply costing $20. The Affordable Care Act first introduced federal requirements for private health insurance to cover contraceptive care, encompassing FDA-approved birth control prescribed by a doctor as a preventive service.
It is important to note that the proposed rule would not impact individuals covered by Medicaid, the insurance program catering to low-income Americans. States have the authority to set their own regulations regarding Medicaid coverage for contraception, with few covering over-the-counter methods such as Plan B or condoms.