Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today helped introduce the Affordability is Access Act, which would ensure women continue to have access to no-cost birth control if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves oral contraception for over-the-counter use.

“We’ve made great strides in expanding women’s access to preventative healthcare, including contraception. Now it’s critical to ensure that any over-the-counter birth control pills approved by the FDA continue to be covered at no additional cost,” DelBene said. “Without guaranteed access to affordable birth control, women would have to pay as much as $600 a year. We cannot take a step backward by allowing those costs to be passed onto women.”

More than 55 million women across the country are saving on their healthcare expenses because of the contraceptive coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Affordability is Access Act would ensure women maintain no-cost access to their preferred method of birth control by clarifying that if the FDA approves an over-the-counter oral contraception, insurance companies must cover it even without a prescription.

Reps. Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), Joe Crowley (NY-14) and Patrick Murphy (FL-18) introduced the bill along with several other Democrats. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has introduced the Senate companion measure.