Biden Administration Pushes for No-Cost Access to Over-the-Counter Contraception

The Biden administration is set to propose a new rule that would require private insurance plans to cover over-the-counter contraception without a prescription at no cost. Jen Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council, called this proposal the most significant expansion of contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act in over a decade. With reproductive health becoming a prominent issue in the current political landscape, especially after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, this rule seeks to protect access to contraceptive methods like the Plan B emergency contraceptive and Opill, the first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive.

The proposed changes aim to ensure that millions of women do not face obstacles in obtaining necessary reproductive health services. Klein noted that the proposed rule is critical as dangerous and extreme abortion bans threaten reproductive health access across several states. The Affordable Care Act currently mandates most private health plans to cover contraception without cost-sharing; however, the necessity of prescriptions for over-the-counter methods has created barriers for many women.

Under the new rule, insurance companies would also be required to cover all FDA-approved contraceptives without requiring a prescription, further ensuring access to essential reproductive health options.