The 'Convenient Contraception Act' Mandates Free, Full-Year Birth Control Supplies Starting 2026

The “Convenient Contraception Act” is pretty straightforward: it mandates that if your group health plan or individual insurance already covers a specific contraceptive—which they generally must do under existing law—they now have to let you get a full 365-day supply of it all at once, if you choose. Crucially, this year-long supply must still be provided completely free of charge. That means no copays, no deductibles, and no coinsurance can be applied to the full year’s worth of medication, reinforcing the zero-cost coverage requirement already in place for preventive services.

The End of the Monthly Pharmacy Trip

This provision, found in Section 2, is a massive win for convenience and consistency. Think about it: right now, even with zero-cost coverage, most people have to deal with the pharmacy every 30 or 90 days. That means multiple trips, multiple calls to the doctor for refills, and the constant threat of forgetting to pick up a refill, which can lead to gaps in coverage. For busy people juggling work, family, and everything else, those administrative hassles are real barriers. Under this new rule, if you’re stable on your current method, you can get it once a year and be done with it.

Implementation: When and How

Don’t start calling your pharmacy just yet. The bill specifies that this change applies to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This gives insurance companies and pharmacies time to update their systems, which is necessary because dispensing a 365-day supply in one go is a big shift from the current model. To make sure everyone knows about this new option, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury are required to launch an outreach campaign within 90 days of the law’s enactment, informing both patients and providers about the new 365-day rule.

Who Pays for the Convenience?

The bill is clear: the patient pays nothing out-of-pocket for this full year’s supply. The cost of the medication shifts entirely to the health plan or insurer. While this is great news for the consumer, it does mean that insurance companies and group health plans will need to manage higher upfront costs and potentially adjust their inventory and distribution logistics. For the person picking up the prescription, however, the only practical impact is saving time and ensuring continuous access to their medication without the hassle of frequent refills. This provision is a straightforward mandate designed to eliminate administrative friction and improve public health outcomes by reducing lapses in coverage.