State government announcements or reports from major news outlets

Biden Proposes Insurers Cover Free Over-the-Counter Contraceptives Without Prescription, Including Plan B

Oct 21, 2024, 02:00 PM

The Biden administration has proposed new rules under the Affordable Care Act that would require private health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Plan B, at no cost to consumers and without a prescription. Unveiled two weeks before the presidential election, the proposal aims to expand access to reproductive healthcare by mandating coverage of methods such as condoms, the morning-after pill, and daily oral contraceptives without cost-sharing. President Biden stated that "this new action would help ensure that millions of women with private health insurance can access the no-cost contraception they need." Vice President Kamala Harris, who is making reproductive rights a centerpiece of her re-election campaign, emphasized the importance of ensuring access to contraception. The administration describes the proposal as the largest expansion of contraception coverage in more than a decade, potentially affecting 52 million women of reproductive age, seeking to cut out-of-pocket costs and improve access to preventive services.