Shapiro asks Biden Administration to have over-the-counter birth control pill covered by insurers

Gov. Josh Shapiro and five governors from the Reproductive Freedom Alliance sent a letter to the Biden Administration to make sure the first ever approved over-the-counter birth control pill is fully covered by the Affordable Care Act. 

On Monday, Gov. Josh Shapirio penned a letter to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the Dept. of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Biden Administration to take all necessary steps to ensure that the first ever Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved over-the-counter (OTC) daily birth control pill is fully covered by insurance. 

Shapiro was joined by five governors from the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a group of 21 governors from across the country who work to protect and expand Americans’ reproductive rights.

“When Pennsylvanians chose me as their Governor – they made clear that they support a woman’s freedom to choose,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Since taking office, I’ve unequivocally supported that freedom and the right to access a full scope of reproductive health care, including over-the-counter birth control.”

The governors who signed onto the letter include North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Grisham, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Haley, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. 

The FDA approved the first OTC birth control pill in July 2023 and it is expected to be released to the public at any time. The ACA already requires insurers to provide coverage for all FDA approved forms of contraception without imposing cost-sharing requirements. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to defend that freedom at the federal level and we’re respectfully asking them to do everything in their power to expand access to reproductive health care so that no woman is prevented from accessing the care they need just because they can’t afford it,” Shapiro said.