Reproductive health

Special collection

This collection examines issues related to reproductive health, including the legality of reproductive services (reproductive rights), access to those services (reproductive health), and how societal factors such as race or social status impact access to and decisions about reproductive health (reproductive justice). This includes everything from contraception and comprehensive sex education, to abortion and pre-natal and pregnancy care, as well as other issues that inform a person’s full reproductive autonomy. This special collection brings together knowledge and insights from organizations addressing reproductive health related issues and explores the impact foundations and nonprofits are having on this work.

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Contraceptive Deserts

January 20, 2023

More than 19 million women of reproductive age living in the US are in need of publicly funded contraception and live in contraceptive deserts. Living in a contraceptive desert means that they lack reasonable access in their county to a health center that offers the full range of contraceptive methods. Around 1.2 million of these women live in a county without a single health center offering the full range of methods. For all of these women getting contraception means having to do more than showing up to an appointment. They must find a babysitter, take time off work, or travel long distances to access their preferred birth control method. And they're not alone. We know that there are women across the US who aren't eligible for publicly funded contraception but still rely on the same health centers. Whether for convenience, privacy reasons, or instances of reproductive coercion, women who have insurance may still seek contraception at health centers that primarily serve low income women. It only tells part of the story to say that 19 million women live in contraceptive deserts.This resource provides a visual description of where women in need can access birth control—and where they can't—across the country. As the map moves from dark purple to yellow to dark pink, access declines.

Coverage for an Extended Supply of Prescription Contraception

August 12, 2022

23 states, including DC, require certain health insurance plans to cover an extended supply of prescription contraceptives.

When Your Birth Control Isn’t Covered: Health Plan Non-Compliance With the Federal Contraceptive Coverage Requirement

May 11, 2022

The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a tremendous step forward and brought basic health care within reach for millions of people across the country. Notably, the ACA included a first-of-its-kind provision that required health insurance plans to cover the full range of FDA approved birth control methods with no out-of-pocket expense. More than 62 million women have gained access to affordable birth control thanks to the ACA.However, there are still significant gaps in making full coverage a reality for everyone. As we know, effective implementation and enforcement are crucial to ensuring that laws like the ACA are able to meet their ambitious goals. This new report makes this point clear by uncovering far too many examples of health insurance plans falling short of the ACA's standards and guidance. Despite having ample time to come into compliance, our report found that many health care plans still seem to lack a process that ensures people can get the birth control best suited to them, without exception or delay