In this illustration, the Opill package is displayed on March 22, 2024 in San Anselmo, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
CVS Health It said Thursday that its drug plans will cover the first over-the-counter birth control pills in the United States at no cost to many health plan sponsors, a decision that could open the door for more people to prevent unintended pregnancies without a prescription.
The pill will be added to the oral contraceptive menu for preventive services and will be covered at no cost to many sponsors, said the company's pharmacy benefits manager, CVS Caremark. The medicine known as Opill from Peregowas available in pharmacies starting April 1, according to a pharmacy update from CVS Caremark dated last week and reviewed by CNBC.
Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, maintain lists of drugs covered by health insurance plans and negotiate drug discounts with manufacturers. In most stores, the retail price for Opill is $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Perrigo in July. This is the first time that many US residents will be able to purchase birth control pills without a prescription, in the same way they buy Tylenol or Advil.
This medication can significantly increase access to contraception, especially for younger women and those living in rural and underserved communities who often have difficulty with birth control.
Medical organizations estimate that 45% of the 6 million pregnancies annually in the United States are unintended.
The entry of birth control pills into the market is a win for the Biden administration, which has tried to support reproductive rights as abortion restrictions rise in many states.
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling more than a year ago — which ended 50 years of federal abortion rights — has diminished the availability of the procedure nationwide and renewed calls to expand access to contraception.
