5
Q2: Are plans and issuers required to cover, without the imposition of any cost sharing,
contraceptive products and services that are not included in a category of contraception
described in the HRSA-Supported Guidelines?
15
Yes. The 2019 HRSA-Supported Guidelines include a recommendation that adolescent and adult
women have access to the full range of female-controlled FDA-approved contraceptive methods,
effective family planning practices, and sterilization procedures as part of contraceptive care.
16
The range of identified categories of contraception in the currently applicable 2019 HRSA-
Supported Guidelines
17
include: (1) sterilization surgery for women, (2) surgical sterilization via
implant for women, (3) implantable rods, (4) copper intrauterine devices, (5) intrauterine devices
with progestin (all durations and doses), (6) the shot or injection, (7) oral contraceptives
(combined pill), (8) oral contraceptives (progestin only), (9) oral contraceptives (extended or
continuous use), (10) the contraceptive patch, (11) vaginal contraceptive rings, (12) diaphragms;
(13) contraceptive sponges, (14) cervical caps, (15) female condoms, (16) spermicides, (17)
emergency contraception (levonorgestrel), and (18) emergency contraception (ulipristal acetate);
and additional methods as identified by the FDA.
18
Plans and issuers must cover without cost
sharing at least one form of contraception in each of the categories above.
19
In addition, as clarified in FAQs Part 51, the Departments interpret 26 CFR 54.9815-2713, 29
CFR 2590.715-2713, and 45 CFR 147.130 as applied to the HRSA-Supported Guidelines to
require plans and issuers to cover without cost sharing any contraceptive services and FDA-
approved, cleared, or granted contraceptive products that an individual and their attending
provider have determined to be medically appropriate for the individual, whether or not those
services or products are specifically identified in the categories listed in the HRSA-Supported
15
In prior FAQs related to contraceptive coverage, the Departments referenced the FDA Birth Control Guide as the
source for categories of contraceptives that must be covered without cost sharing. The Departments are citing the
HRSA-Supported Guidelines for the list of contraceptive categories to better align these FAQs with the language of
the Affordable Care Act’s preventive service coverage requirements. Despite the change in wording, there is no
substantive difference and the requirements for plans and issuers remain the same. For the FDA Birth Control
Guide, see https://www.fda.gov/media/150299/download
.
16
The 2019 HRSA-Supported Guidelines recommended “the full range of female-controlled U.S. Food and Drug
Administration-approved contraceptive methods.” The 2021 HRSA-Supported Guidelines expanded the
recommendation to encompass contraceptives that are not female-controlled, such as male condoms (which must be
covered with a prescription by plans and issuers for plan years (in the individual market, policy years) that begin on
or after December 30, 2022). The 2021 HRSA-Supported Guidelines do not include male sterilization.
17
The 2021 HRSA-Supported Guidelines include the following categories: (1) sterilization surgery for women, (2)
implantable rods, (3) copper intrauterine devices, (4) intrauterine devices with progestin (all durations and doses),
(5) injectable contraceptives, (6) oral contraceptives (combined pill), 7) oral contraceptives (progestin only), (8)
oral contraceptives (extended or continuous use), (9) the contraceptive patch, (10) vaginal contraceptive rings, (11)
diaphragms, (12) contraceptive sponges, (13) cervical caps, (14) condoms, (15) spermicides, (16) emergency
contraception (levonorgestrel), and (17) emergency contraception (ulipristal acetate), and any additional
contraceptives approved, cleared, or granted by the FDA.
18
Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines, available at https://www.hrsa.gov/womens-guidelines/index.html.
Additionally, the Guidelines state that instruction in fertility awareness-based methods, including the lactation
amenorrhea method, although less effective, should be provided for women desiring an alternative method.
19
See FAQs Part XXVI, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-
activities/resource-center/faqs/aca-part-xxvi.pdf and https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Fact-Sheets-and-
FAQs/Downloads/aca_implementation_faqs26.pdf.