The Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers access to birth control. Learning about the eligibility requirements and covered methods can help you access the coverage.
If you’ve got questions about which birth control methods the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does and does not cover, this guide is for you. Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about the ACA and birth control coverage.
Before the ACA, many people would have to shell out thousands of dollars for care.
Colloquially known as “Obamacare,” the ACA offers people health insurance coverage at a lower cost, thus allowing people to save money on healthcare services.
The ACA is also known as the “healthcare law” and the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
Protections and benefits under the ACA include:
- coverage for people with preexisting conditions
- no annual or lifetime dollar limits
- free preventive care
- access to parents’ insurance plans until 26 years old
Another thing that the ACA says, which is what we’ll be narrowing in on in this article, is that employers must cover birth control for their employees.
If you meet all of the following prerequisites, you’re eligible for coverage under the ACA:
- You currently live in the United States.
- You are a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
- You are not currently incarcerated.
- Your personal income is no more than four times that of the federal poverty level.
A note on that last requirement: The dollar amount will vary from year to year based on the current poverty level as defined by the federal government.
In 2025, the federal poverty level is $15,650. So, any single person making more than $62,600 will not be eligible.
“Under the ACA, any person with insurance has access to any FDA-approved birth control method with no copay or no deductible,” explained Sophia Yen, MD, co-founder and CEO of birth control delivery service Pandia Health.
So, in this case, birth control is free.
- tubal ligation
- copper IUD
- progestin IUD
- implantable rod
- shot
- oral contraceptive combined pill
- oral contraceptive extended continuous use combined pill
- oral contraceptive minipill (progestin only)
- patch
- ring
- diaphragm with spermicide
- sponge with spermicide
- cervical cap with spermicide
- internal condom
- spermicide
- vaginal gel (Phexxi)
- emergency contraceptive
The act also covers an “annual well-woman exam,” which includes:
- Pap smear
- pelvic exam
- blood pressure check
- weight measurement
- height measurement
You can opt for additional services such as:
- sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening
- diabetes screening
- domestic partner abuse screening
- immunization
- certain types of cancer screening
No. The terms apply to most health insurance plans but not all. You’ll need to check with your insurer to find out which birth control services your specific plan covers.
Generally, people on short-term plans and people who have insurance through religiously affiliated private employers are not covered.
Common employers that may be religiously affiliated include:
- universities
- hospitals
- churches
- nursing homes
- nonprofits
Some brand-name birth control pills are not automatically covered under the ACA.
“But your doctor or another healthcare professional may be able to ‘argue’ with your insurance to get the brand-name birth control deemed needed to be covered,” said Yen.
It’s a good idea to find out potential costs in advance.
Just call your health insurance provider ahead of time to find out what costs they will cover.
The ACA says that insurance plans must cover birth control for people who can get pregnant, as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
If you have the emotional and mental capacity to do so, file a complaint. You are entitled to the care you need and deserve. If you’re not getting that care, it’s important to advocate for yourself.
Under the ACA, access to birth control is your legal right.
So, if your insurance company isn’t willing to provide you the necessary care you’re entitled to legally under the ACA, you have a legal case.
Understanding insurance isn’t always straightforward, so you may still have questions. To learn more, check out these resources:
- Guttmacher Institute: The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. On the organization’s website, you’ll find information about birth control and abortion access by state. The state legislation tracker may be particularly useful.
- Planned Parenthood: You may know that Planned Parenthood is a vital organization that provides reproductive healthcare, sex education, and information. The organization also has a robust website, complete with information on everything from different birth control options to how to get insurance. This page on the ACA may be particularly helpful.
- Healthcare.gov: Healthcare.gov is a federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You’ll find links to the ACA PDF and HTML here.
Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a queer sex educator and wellness journalist who is committed to helping people feel the best they can in their bodies. In addition to Healthline, her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Health, Self, Women’s Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called Bad In Bed. Follow her on Instagram @Gabriellekassel.