Free the Pill Coalition
Birth control pills are part of the full range of sexual and reproductive health care, and access is a fundamental human right
The Free the Pill coalition is a group of more than 250 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations, research and advocacy groups, youth activists, health care providers, prominent medical and health professional associations, and others who share a commitment to ensuring more equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable birth control to people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities in the United States. Coalition members support over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pills that are affordable, fully covered by insurance, and available to people of all ages. To express their commitment, coalition members sign on to our statement of purpose.
The coalition (formerly known as the Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group) has been working since 2004 to build the evidence in support of OTC birth control pills in the United States. Housed at Ibis Reproductive Health, a global research organization, the coalition’s activities are guided by a steering committee of individuals representing research, health, and advocacy communities.
Subgroups
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COC Working Group
This subgroup is convened to discuss research, develop recommendations, and explore potential implications of an over-the-counter (OTC) combined oral contraceptive (COC).
Subgroup membership is open to coalition members
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Community Education & Empowerment Subgroup
Description coming soon
Subgroup membership is open to coalition members
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#FreeThePill Youth Council
A collaboration between Advocates for Youth and Ibis Reproductive Health, this subgroup is comprised of youth activists from across the country who are working in their communities to bring birth control over-the-counter, covered by insurance with no age-restriction.
Subgroup membership is managed by Advocates for Youth.
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Innovative Distribution Subgroup
This subgroup focuses on strategies for amplifying information about Opill’s safety and effectiveness, where to get it, and who might be interested in it; however, we will aim to align strategies with other innovative distribution practices being implemented for other OTC birth control products including condoms and emergency contraceptives like Plan B.
Subgroup membership is invitation-only
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Native Contraceptive Access Collaborative
This group of Native-led and serving organizations, Native youth activists, and allied researcher and provider partners work together to advance advocacy, research, communications and campaign strategies to ensure that all Native communities—tribal and urban—are resourced and able to easily access over-the-counter contraceptives.
Subgroup membership is invitation-only
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OTC Implementation Collaborative
This group of reproductive justice and consumer advocates, health insurance experts, pharmacists, and public health analysts are dedicated to exploring and developing solutions for the implementation of OTC coverage, and work together to build upon and learn from the efforts of state advocates and evaluate how OTC birth control coverage has been operationalized.
Subgroup membership is invitation-only
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Affordability & Access Policy Hub
This subgroup gathers together technical policy experts, RJ stakeholders, and other advocates to shape ongoing policy and advocacy efforts around OTC birth control on the state and federal level. The goal of the “Hub” is to facilitate learning, align, and share information on coverage and affordability policy priorities to advance toward similar goals and inform engagement with public officials.
Subgroup membership is invitation-only
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Provider Education & Empowerment Subgroup
Description coming soon
Subgroup membership is open to coalition members
Why now is the time to join the coalition
The FDA’s approval of the first-ever over-the-counter (OTC) daily birth control pill for people of all ages—Opill—was a landmark decision that marks the culmination of two decades of work by members of this very coalition.
Now that Opill is available online and in stores nationwide, we are doubling down on our efforts to ensure that Opill, and future OTC birth control pills, are truly accessible: fully covered by insurance, priced affordably, and available on the shelf, not behind glass or a pharmacy counter. As we do this work, we continue to grow our coalition to be more inclusive of voices key to our movement to free the pill. Join us in this exciting moment and help us advance health equity and reproductive justice.
If you or your organization have direct work or professional interest in the issue, become a coalition member and help drive campaign activities. Please note, employees of the pharmaceutical industry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are welcome to join the coalition informally as individuals, but we will involve them at our discretion.
Statement of purpose
To express their commitment to ensuring more equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable birth control to people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities in the United States, coalition members sign our statement of purpose.
Statement on racial justice
The Free the Pill coalition affirms that contraceptive equity can never be accomplished as long as racism continues to exist. Our statement on racial justice illustrates our commitment to addressing systemic inequities so that everyone has access to the health care they want and need.