Expanding insurance coverage to include newly available over-the-counter contraceptives in the United States

In July 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter (OTC) daily oral contraceptive pill, Opill (nogestrel). This is the first daily oral contraceptive approved in the United States (US) for use without a prescription, available in retail stores and online. The manufacturer began distributing Opill in March 2024 with a suggested retail price of US$19.99 for 1 month’s supply or US$49.99 for 3 months’ supply. However, consumers are ‘cost-sensitive,’ with less than 50% of potential teen users interested in using OTC progestogen-only contraception if the price is greater than US$10 out of pocket.1