Millions of Americans could soon have access over-the-counter contraception without any out-of-pocket costs.
The Biden administration's proposal, tabled Monday, coincides with abortion overtaking immigration as the primary concern of this election period.
If successful, those with private health insurance will be able to get to secure condoms, birth control pills, and emergency contraceptives without a prescription. Currently, health insurers are required to cover the cost of these items, but only to people that have been authorized via prescription.
Women without one currently pay as much as $50 for one box of Plan B.
"The proposed rule we announce today would expand access to birth control at no additional cost for millions of consumers," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
"Bottom line: women should have control over their personal health care decisions. And issuers and providers have an obligation to comply with the law."
Vice President Kamala Harris, who has tied her presidential campaign to promises of expanding women's health care access, has emphasized the importance of this rule in light of the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned nationwide abortion rights.
"We will continue to fight for women's access to reproductive health care," Harris said during a recent campaign rally in Philadelphia.
The statement announcing the policy states reproductive rights are "under attack," and that "every state must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions."
Her and Biden have worked to create a sharp contrast with Republicans, particularly former President Donald Trump, whose judicial appointments helped dismantle federal abortion protections with the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Under the new rule, emergency contraceptives, known to many as the "morning after pill," would be made more accessible without a doctor's prescription.
Emergency contraception is typically taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy,
The rule would remove that financial burden, potentially benefiting millions of women who previously had to delay access to contraception due to prescription requirements.
In addition to emergency contraceptives, the rule would mandate that insurers fully cover Opill, the first daily over-the-counter birth control pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year.
A one-month supply of Opill typically costs around $20 for those without insurance, making the proposed coverage a significant financial relief for many individuals seeking safe and regular contraceptive care.
The rule stems from mandates first introduced by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which required insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods prescribed by doctors.
However, the ACA did not initially require insurers to cover nonprescription birth control methods. Urgent attention is being paid to closing that gap, offering a more comprehensive range of contraceptive options for individuals with private insurance.
It's important to note that the proposed rule would not affect Medicaid coverage, which is left to individual states to regulate.
Currently, few states include over-the-counter contraception like condoms or Plan B in their Medicaid plans. Women in states yet to expand Medicaid eligibility are among those most at risk of lacking coverage for their reproductive rights.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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