Birth Control

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and nearly half of those unintended pregnancies end in abortion. Contraceptives have a proven track record of enhancing the health of patients, preventing unintended pregnancy, and reducing the need for abortion.

Although contraception is basic health care, many insurance policies exclude coverage of birth control. Too often, when birth control is covered by insurance plans, patients are required to pay expensive co-pays each month. In addition, some anti-reproductive health policymakers have tried to erode this benefit by promoting policies that would allow employers to determine whether their employees have access to insurance coverage for birth control.

Since 2006, New Jersey state law has required that health insurance plans that cover prescription medication provide equitable coverage for birth control. As part of the Affordable Care Act, new health insurance plans are required to fully cover women’s preventive health care services, including the full range of birth control methods, with no co-pays to their members.

Get the facts on access to birth control here.