The Biden administration is proposing a rule to provide women with private insurance access to over-the-counter birth control pills and other contraceptives at no cost. The rule expands a federal mandate requiring health insurers to cover preventative care services under the Affordable Care Act. It is being proposed by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury and would take effect in 2025 if finalized. This rule would benefit 52 million women of reproductive age with private health insurance, allowing them to obtain over-the-counter contraception without a prescription and without additional costs. The rule covers various forms of over-the-counter contraceptives, including emergency contraception, spermicides, birth control sponges, and condoms. Health plans would also be required to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and some devices without cost sharing in many cases.
The proposal comes just before the 2024 presidential election, with abortion rights being a key issue following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022. Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has made access to abortion central to her campaign, while former President Donald Trump, the Republican rival, has mentioned appointing conservative justices but has stopped short of proposing a national ban on abortion. This proposed rule aims to provide greater access to contraceptives for women and aligns with the Biden administration’s commitment to reproductive rights and healthcare access.
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