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Will the Affordability is Access Act of 2026 Change Your Health Insurance?
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Key points
- The Affordability is Access Act of 2026 mandates that insurers cover over-the-counter birth control without prescriptions or cost-sharing.
- The legislation was introduced concurrently in both the Senate by Patty Murray and the House by Ayanna Pressley.
- The bill prohibits commercial retailers from interfering with consumer access to non-prescription contraceptives.
NewsWK — On September 24, 2026, federal lawmakers introduced new legislation to mandate health insurance coverage for over the counter contraceptives. Senator Patty Murray sponsored the Senate version, while Representative Ayanna Pressley introduced a companion bill in the House.
Why it matters
The proposed federal mandate would force private health plans to cover non-prescription birth control directly. Consequently, this federal shift could impact premium costs and coverage rules for millions of Americans.
How Does the S 5539 Affordability is Access Act Change Insurance?
The S 5539 Affordability is Access Act requires group and individual health insurance plans to provide free over the counter birth control insurance coverage. Under this federal mandate, insurers must pay for FDA-approved, non-prescription contraceptives without requiring a doctor’s prescription or charging any out-of-pocket cost-sharing.
Meanwhile, the legislation establishes strict guidelines for both retailers and insurance providers:
- Insurers must cover FDA-approved OTC contraceptives without cost-sharing.
- The bill strengthens insurance coverage for provider-prescribed contraceptives.
- Retailers cannot block customers from purchasing these non-prescription products.
Who Sponsored the Patty Murray Birth Control Bill?
Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, introduced the Senate bill, which went directly to the Senate HELP Committee. Meanwhile, Representative Ayanna Pressley introduced the companion bill, H.R. 10597, in the House. Both progressive lawmakers seek to expand insurance coverage for over the counter contraceptives across the nation.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
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