CVS plans to allow no-cost access to OTC birth control pill

CVS Health drug plans will cover over-the-counter oral birth control in the U.S., a step that further removes barriers to obtaining oral contraception as reproductive rights increasingly come under fire.

Opill, the nonprescription drug from Perrigo, will be added to the preventive services oral contraceptives list and will be covered at no cost for many plan sponsors, CVS Caremark said in a pharmacy update dated March 28.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared Opill for nonprescription use last summer, making it the country's first over-the-counter oral birth control. While birth control is free when prescribed by a doctor, state Medicaid programs and insurers aren't required to cover over-the-counter versions, which created potential for patient costs that might make the pill inaccessible to some people.

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Lack of insurance coverage was a concern as Opill hit the shelves of major drugstores, like CVS and Walgreens. Perrigo had suggested a monthly retail price of $19.99, while advocacy groups like Free the Pill have supported a retail price of no more than $15 for a three-month supply.

Almost half of the 6.1 million annual U.S. pregnancies are unintended, according to the FDA. Such pregnancies reduce the likelihood that parents will seek early prenatal care and raise the risk of preterm delivery and other adverse health outcomes.