Health insurance must cover over-the-counter contraceptives
H.R. 10597 — To require group health plans and group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for over-the-counter contraceptives. · Filed by Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) · 34 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 24, 2026 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
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What it does
This bill would require health insurance plans to pay for over-the-counter contraceptives. Right now, many people buy condoms and spermicides without insurance help. The bill would make insurance cover these items the same way it covers prescription birth control.
Who it affects
People with health insurance would pay less money for over-the-counter contraceptives. Insurance companies would have to add these items to their coverage.
One thing to notice
Insurance premiums might go up a little because plans would cover more items. The bill does not say how much contraceptives would cost or which types count.
From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.
Where it stands
34 cosponsors: 34 Democrats.
- Sep 24, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- Sep 24, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Education and Workforce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and…”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
Words to know
- over-the-counter contraceptives — Birth control you can buy at a store without a doctor's note.
- coverage — When insurance pays for a medical item or service.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the full bill text on Sep 25, 2026; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 14,986 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-09-26.
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