Affordability is Access Act of 2023
The Affordability is Access Act of 2023 requires health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter contraceptives approved by the FDA without cost-sharing (such as copays or deductibles). It directly affects millions of people, especially those who rely on birth control but face cost barriers, including low-income individuals and people in contraceptive deserts. The bill clarifies that insurance coverage must include FDA-approved OTC contraceptives even without a prescription, and it mandates retailers to provide accurate information about these products without interfering with access. Retailers may refuse to sell the product if payment cannot be made, but they cannot block access or spread misinformation.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 18, 2023
Last action May 18, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 18, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
upper
May 18, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 32 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Patty Murray
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
Co
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
Co
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
Co
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
Co
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher Murphy
DDemocratic
Co
Cory A. Booker
DDemocratic
Co
Debbie Stabenow
DDemocratic
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