Opill, first over-the-counter birth control pill, will go on sale later this month

Source: ABC News

March 4, 2024, 10:57 AM


Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill that can be purchased without a prescription, will be available later this month online and in pharmacies for $19.99 a month, $49.99 for a three-month supply or $89.99 for a six-month supply, its parent company, Perrigo, said Monday.

Opill has been heralded as a potential game-changer for access to birth control because it eliminates the step of finding a doctor to write a prescription, which can be costly or burdensome depending on where women live and what health insurance coverage they have.

The drug has already been on the market for 50 years as prescription birth control and was determined safe and effective for over-the-counter use by the Food and Drug Administration in July. It's is expected to be available at major retailers like CVS and Walgreens nationwide in the coming weeks, as well as available for order directly through Opill's website. Preorder from select retailers begins this week.

The cost of Opill, however, will play a major role in its accessibility. Most insurance plans have to cover prescription birth control under the Affordable Care Act, but the laws differ state by state for birth control without a prescription -- which is uncharted territory.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/opill-counter-birth-control-pill-sale-month/story?id=107775263