Congressman Dan Goldman Works to Ensure that Over-the-Counter Birth Control is Affordable for All Americans

The ‘Affordability is Access Act’ Would Require Private Health Insurers to Cover Cost of Opill

Read Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in introducing the ‘Affordability is Access Act’ to ensure the affordability of FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) birth control. Following FDA approval of Opill, a daily-use OTC oral birth control pill, this legislation would require private health insurers to cover the full costs for patients under their plans.

Paying $50 dollars a month out of pocket for birth control can be a strenuous expense for low-income women on tight budgets. In light of the disastrous Dobbs decision, the ‘Affordability is Access Act’ aims to eliminate all additional barriers that threaten a woman’s freedom to choose her own reproductive health care.

“Comprehensive coverage for contraception is a necessary step in helping women across the country make informed decisions about their health.” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As far-right extremists in state legislatures across the country fight to erect more barriers for women to access reproductive health care, it’s absolutely vital that one’s socio-economic status never bars them from accessing contraception. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in supporting legislation that bridges the growing gap in accessibility.”

The ‘Affordability is Access Act’ would also maintain the FDA’s sole authority to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs, recognizing their jurisdiction in making birth control over-the-counter medication and accessible without a prescription. Additionally, this legislation prohibits retailers from interfering with the consumer’s access or purchase.

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to protecting a woman’s access to ensuring the affordability of proper health care.

Earlier this year, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act,’ to increase access to medically accurate information about abortion, specifically medication abortion. This legislation would ensure people have access to accurate information about where and how to obtain abortion services across the country, how to avoid anti-abortion centers intended to deceive patients, and how to identify misinformation about abortion care.

In June, the Congressman co-sponsored the ‘Abortion Justice Act,’ which would mandate insurance coverage for abortion services and ensure that patients and doctors are not criminalized for providing or receiving abortion care.

In January of this year, Goldman joined 262 members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to protect access to the medication abortion in the FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case threatening access to mifepristone nationwide.

Last September, Goldman joined the ‘Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act,’ which would protect the right to obtain medication abortion through telehealth and certified pharmacies—which include mail-order pharmacies.

Congressman Goldman is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus.

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