Essential Access Health Applauds Biden-Harris Administration for Proposed Expansions to Birth Control Access

Proposal comes at critical time amid ongoing threats to essential reproductive health care

San Diego, CA – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a proposed rule that would significantly increase coverage of contraception without cost-sharing for millions of individuals with private health insurance nationwide.

“We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this critical step to dramatically expand access to birth control coverage without cost-sharing, including coverage of over-the-counter birth control methods,” said Amy Moy, Co-CEO of Essential Access Health. “The provisions in the proposed new rule mirror many of the birth control coverage requirements we have secured in California and will help make sure that regardless of a person’s zip code, they will have the same rights. This is particularly important for people living in states with extreme abortion bans and restrictions and state governments hostile to reproductive freedom. As we celebrate this progress, we urge lawmakers to act to ensure that everyone, everywhere – including those with public insurance and individuals who are uninsured – have equitable access to birth control.”

The landmark proposal comes at a time when support for reproductive freedom has never been higher and amidst unrelenting attacks on access to reproductive health care. An overwhelming majority of Americans support access to birth control, and nearly all women use contraception in their lifetimes. The rule builds upon the progress made by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand access to affordable contraception, including through its restoration of the Title X federal family planning program. 

The proposed new rule would mirror many of the expansions to birth control coverage that Essential Access has led the way to secure in California over the last decade. California was the first state in the nation to codify and expand on contraceptive coverage requirements in the ACA, and in 2021, we built on this progress by championing the Contraceptive Equity Act. The Act, which went into effect in January of this year, required coverage of over-the-counter birth control options without cost-sharing and extended contraceptive coverage benefits to millions of Californians – making California the state with the most comprehensive and inclusive contraceptive coverage requirements in the nation. 

Still, barriers to affordable, accessible birth control coverage – including over-the-counter methods – remain. Even in California, while individuals covered by private health insurance plans should be able to access over-the-counter birth control with no out-of-pocket costs right now, obstacles remain for individuals covered through Medi-Cal. 

Everyone everywhere, regardless of their income, gender identity, or how or whether they have health insurance coverage, deserves equitable access to birth control.

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Essential Access Health advances reproductive equity and champions quality sexual and reproductive health care for all through funding, advocacy, research, training for providers and healthcare professionals, and youth and community empowerment and education. We work to ensure that everyone, everywhere can get the care they want and need, where and how they need it, with dignity and respect.