As someone who has been navigating the ins and outs of accessing and taking birth control for a decade, it has always been important to me that I had a birth control option that wasn’t just affordable, but that was best for my body.

Four years ago, my body decided it no longer wanted to agree with the birth control pill I was taking. I experienced bleeding so heavy that I had to go to the emergency room twice. After a year of very expensive ultrasounds, specialist visits, and the emotional rollercoaster of navigating a health crisis, I found a birth control pill formula that not only stopped the bleeding, but stopped me from having periods at all.

To say I felt free is an understatement. To no longer worry about the cost of tampons, pads, or an unanticipated emergency room visit was an enormous weight off my shoulders.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I was able to remain on my parents insurance until I turned 26 this past January. What I didn’t realize was that the birth control pill that so drastically bettered my life is not covered by my current employer’s health insurance plan, as it does not have a generic formula option and is considered a high tier medication. What once was a $0 copay is now a $300 copay.

While I’m fortunate to have found a birth control method that works for my body, it no longer works for my budget. Coverage of ALL contraception, no matter the method or the brand, is critical for the well-being and freedom of women and families.