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119-s-5539119th CongressWALLET

Affordability is Access Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Murray, Patty [D-WA]

Introduced

Summary

Requires group and individual health plans to cover FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives without cost-sharing. It also clarifies coverage rules for prescription contraceptives and sets basic duties for retailers to avoid blocking access or accurate information.

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  • Families and people who use birth control can obtain FDA-approved OTC contraceptives with no out-of-pocket costs when those products are covered by group or individual plans.
  • People who rely on prescription contraceptives keep insurance coverage, but for any prescription drug with at least one therapeutically equivalent product insurers may need to cover only one such product.
  • Retailers that stock FDA-approved OTC contraceptives cannot interfere with a person's access to those products or to medically accurate information, though they may refuse a sale if a buyer cannot pay.
  • The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury are directed to clarify that existing coverage rules include FDA-approved OTC contraceptives so insurers and plans can apply the rules consistently.

*This text of the Act does not establish new funding or explicit enforcement mechanisms.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Health plans: OTC coverage, limited prescription choices

If enacted, group and individual health plans subject to the statute would have to cover FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives even without a prescription. The bill would also require no cost-sharing when enrollees get FDA-authorized OTC contraceptives. For prescription contraceptives, when two or more products are therapeutically equivalent, plans would need to cover only one product among those equivalents.

Keeps FDA authority and state protections

If enacted, the bill would not change how the Food and Drug Administration reviews or approves nonprescription drugs. It would also not override any federal or state law that provides stronger consumer protections than this bill.

Retailers can't block sales but can refuse unpaid

If enacted, a retailer that stocks FDA-approved OTC contraceptives would not be allowed to interfere with a person's ability to buy them or to get medically accurate information about them. The bill would still allow a retailer to refuse to provide an OTC contraceptive if the person cannot pay by cash, insurance, or another payment method.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murray, Patty [D-WA]

WA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/29/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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