HB2371 aimed to mandate that health-insurance plans covering outpatient prescription drugs also provide coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices, including over-the-counter options. The bill sought to eliminate cost-sharing requirements—such as copayments, coinsurance, or fees—for these contraceptives, thereby reducing financial barriers to access.
The Virginia State House of Delegates passed HB2371 on February 4, 2025 by a vote of 70 to 27. We have assigned pluses to the nays because no insurer should be forced to cover services that conflict with their principles, particularly contraceptives that may violate deeply held moral or religious beliefs. Mandating such coverage is a clear overreach of government power and undermines both religious liberty and free-market principles. The right to life is a foundational principle protected by the Constitution and affirmed in the Declaration of Independence. Decisions about insurance coverage should be left to the voluntary agreements between providers and consumers, not dictated by the state.
