Taxpayers Do Not Pay for "Free" Birth Control

The birth control benefit was created as part of the Affordable Care Act. In August 2011, following the recommendation of the nonpartisan Institute of Medicine, the Obama administration announced guidelines that would require health insurance plans to cover preventive reproductive health services — including birth control — with no additional copay as part of basic insurance coverage.

So is Birth Control Free Under the ACA?

One of the key questions that people have asked is about the cost of the birth control benefit to taxpayers. Some have voiced skepticism that if the free birth control benefit is being offered across the country, it may be coming out of their taxes. Many people asked, "Is birth control free, or are taxpayers paying for birth control?"  

Learn How the Affordable Care Act’s Birth Control Benefit Works

Check out the graph below to learn all about what birth control with no copay really means and who is paying (hint: not the taxpayers!).