Richmond, Virginia— Advocates for reproductive health care access are celebrating today as HB6, sponsored by Delegate Marcia Price, passed the Senate on a vote of 23-15 today and will now move to the Governor’s desk. The bill would require health insurance companies to provide no-cost birth control to patients, mirroring the already popular provision of the federal Affordable Care Act. This important bill would help address cost barriers to contraceptive access and equity by eliminating burdensome co-pays, cost-sharing, reimbursement requirements, and coverage delays.

“Our community has made it clear that birth control should be affordable, accessible, and free from political interference, and the passage of HB 6 shows what an impact advocates have had,” said Ashleigh Crocker, Interim Executive Director of Progress VA. “This bill is about removing real financial barriers that keep people from getting the health care they need, and we are thrilled to see it finally get across the finish line. When we guarantee no-cost contraception, we give people the freedom to plan their futures and their families on their own terms. We look forward to seeing Governor Spanberger sign the bill.”

Background:

• About 400,000 people in Virginia face barriers in accessing the contraception they need, because they live in parts of the state with reduced/non-existent access to the full range of healthcare options and available contraceptive methods. These individuals have to spend more funds in transportation and childcare trying to access healthcare.

• Some of the most cost-efficient contraceptive methods, like IUDs and implants come with steep up-front costs. Up to 40% of lower income women in the United States would use a different contraceptive method if cost were not a factor

• People living in states with expanded access to no-copay contraception were more likely to use contraception and more likely to have their contraceptive preferences met than in states without this expanded access, even after controlling for individual insurance status.

• New polling indicates that 8 in 10 voters support the right to contraception, and there is majority support for this bill across party, race, gender, and generational lines. Republicans support it 68% to 20%.

• 77% of polled voters say that they have personally used contraception, and 88% say that they think it is important that people should make their own decisions about when to use contraception and what method they want to use.