United States | Contraception

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Changes to the health care system under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are having wide-ranging impacts on health coverage and provision of care to men and women across the United States. Guttmacher studies the ACA’s impact on reproductive health coverage and access, with a particular focus on the federal contraceptive coverage guarantee, which has eliminated cost barriers that could impede women’s ability to obtain the method that is best for them. The Institute also focuses on identifying vulnerable populations, such as many immigrants, who are not fully benefiting from the ACA.

Resources

There is a growing body of evidence on the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on women’s contraceptive access. In the past, women seeking a hormonal IUD—one of the most effective forms of contraception available—may have been dissuaded from obtaining one because of high out-of-pocket costs. The ACA is making these more expensive methods a realistic option for many women. More women can now choose a birth control method based on what works best for them, as opposed to what they can afford