"US Offers Free Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills... Expanding Insurance Coverage Ahead of Presidential Election"

Starting next year in the United States, condoms, emergency contraceptives, and other items sold at pharmacies will be covered by health insurance, allowing women to effectively access them for free.

On the 21st (local time), the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a proposed federal mandate rule change to expand insurance coverage for preventive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as 'Obamacare.'

The new rule requires insurance coverage to include contraceptive-related drugs that can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. Until now, insurers have only covered the costs of contraceptive-related drugs when prescribed by a doctor. Jennifer Klein, Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, stated, "Once this rule is implemented, contraceptive coverage will be expanded for 52 million women of reproductive age enrolled in private insurance."

The Biden administration’s expansion of health insurance coverage has drawn attention as it comes two weeks before the presidential election. Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris has been rallying her supporters by referring to the ultra-strict abortion bans enacted in some states after the Supreme Court overturned the federal abortion rights ruling 'Roe v. Wade' as the 'Trump abortion bans.'

Regarding the rule revision, Vice President Harris issued a statement saying, "Our administration is expanding contraceptive insurance coverage to the greatest extent in over a decade," adding, "This rule is based on the government’s efforts to protect reproductive freedom?the right of women to make their own choices about childbirth?by providing more affordable contraceptive options."

She continued, "While we fight to protect and expand healthcare services, so-called extremist leaders are attacking reproductive freedom in every area," criticizing, "Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked legislation to protect contraceptive rights and continue to refuse to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while proposing nationwide abortion bans."

President Biden also stated in a release, "At a time when access to contraception is under attack, Vice President Harris and I are working to expand access to high-quality, affordable contraceptives," adding, "We believe that everyone should have the freedom to make very personal healthcare decisions, including the right of women in every state to decide whether to form a family or raise children."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.