Free the Pill and Cover it Too: Strategies for Making OTC Birth Control Coverage Work in the Real World

This report is about successful implementation of insurance coverage of over the counter (OTC) birth control at the state and national levels. An increasing number of private and public insurers provide OTC coverage of birth control without a prescription. Further, currently under the Affordable Care Act, most private health plans are required to cover all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods of contraception without cost sharing. However, coverage is only meaningful if it works in the real world. These recommendations were developed by experts with substantial experience in developing and implementing policies on OTC birth control coverage.