US President Joe Biden announced on Monday his intention to expand access to over-the-counter contraceptive products, just over two weeks before the November 5 election in the United States, where the question of the right to abortion remains a key issue.
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“This new measure would help ensure that millions of women with private health insurance can access the free contraception they need,” Biden said in a statement.
The proposed measure would expand coverage of no-cost contraception for 52 million women of childbearing age with private health insurance, the White House said.
“Today, our administration is proposing the largest expansion of contraceptive coverage in more than a decade,” said Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in a statement.
The proposal must still be posted for public comment for 60 days before being finalized.
Current U.S. health care law requires most insurance plans to cover contraception free of charge, but it also allows them to require a prescription. The proposal would expand coverage to over-the-counter products, including emergency contraceptives.
Following a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the constitutional right to abortion, Democrats have positioned themselves as the party coming to its defense, with polls indicating a majority of Americans also support it .
