In this photo illustration, a pack of Opill is displayed on March 22, 2024 in San Anselmo, California.
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CVS Health The company said Thursday its drug plans will cover the nation’s first over-the-counter birth control pill at no cost to many health plan sponsors, a decision that could open the door to more people taking birth control. accidental pregnancy No prescription required.
CVS Caremark, the company’s pharmacy benefits manager, said the drug will be added to its preventive services oral contraceptive list and will be covered at zero cost by many sponsors.The drug is called Opil and comes from perigoThe drug will be available in pharmacies starting April 1, according to a pharmacy update released by CVS Caremark last week and seen by CNBC.
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) maintain lists of drugs covered by health insurance plans and negotiate drug discounts with manufacturers. At most stores, Opil retails for $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Perrigo’s drug in July. This marks the first time many U.S. residents will be able to buy birth control pills over the counter, much like they would buy Tylenol or Advil.
The drug could significantly expand contraceptive use, especially for younger women and those living in rural and underserved communities, who often have difficulty accessing birth control.
Medical organizations estimate that of the 6 million pregnancies in the United States each year, 45% are unintended.
The drug’s arrival on the market is a victory for the Biden administration, which has sought to bolster reproductive rights as abortion restrictions increase in many states.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision more than a year ago – which ended 50 years of federal abortion rights – has led to a nationwide decline in abortion procedures and renewed calls for expanded birth control range.
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