Biden Administration RFI Re: Insurance Coverage for OTC Products
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Below is an excerpt from a public comment written by Alex Schulte, Anu Manchikanti Gómez and Ariana Bennett, submitted to the Biden Administration in regard to their request for information on insurance coverage of over-the-counter (OTC) preventive products on December 13, 2023.
We are writing as individuals to submit public comments in favor of the potential requirement for most health insurance plans to cover a range of over-the-counter (OTC) preventive products, including contraception, free of charge. Our comments draw on our expertise in reproductive health research, specifically on the benefits of OTC and affordable access to birth control pills.
As members of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity (SHARE) Program at the University of California, Berkeley, our multi-method research on contraceptive access underscores the importance of expanding options for individuals seeking reproductive health care. Our recent national project, focusing on person-centered contraceptive access needs, utilized a nationally representative survey of English- and Spanish-speaking individuals aged 15-44 with the capacity to become pregnant.