Hey John,
Obviously, we are THRILLED people can finally buy some birth control pills online or right off the shelf — no prescription or I.D. needed! But it's that phrase "buy birth control pills" that still feels strange to type. Because let's face it: birth control shouldn't cost anything!
Here's the problem: most health insurance plans (including public plans like Medicaid) can require a prescription first before they cover the cost of birth control pills. We need the Biden Administration to make clear that over-the-counter birth control, now including Opill, purchased without a prescription, must also be covered, just like it is in nine U.S. states right now.
Whether you have Medicaid, TRICARE, student health insurance, employer-sponsored private insurance, or use the Indian Health Service, you should be able to pick up your birth control at no cost, period. Yes, the hoops you have to jump through to obtain a prescription can keep people from getting on birth control - but if you have to pay out-of-pocket for the pills, that can be an even larger barrier. Tell the Biden Administration to take action here.
And of course, those without any insurance also deserve access to contraception. Our letter campaign also calls on the Biden Administration to create grant programs to do just that.
The only way our political leaders act is when they feel the pressure. That's where you AND our partners come in. As you'll see, we have pulled together a huge coalition of supporters to rally their lists to take action this week. Join all of us and let's make sure the Biden Administration is so overwhelmed with letters that they have to respond.
Thanks so much for doing your part,
Geoff Corey
Director of Campaigns & Rapid Response
Advocates for Youth
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