Factors Associated with New Uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives Since the Affordable Care Act Among Privately Insured Women in Pennsylvania

The Affordable Care Act eliminated out-of-pocket costs for contraceptives, including highly effective long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), for most insured women. Patient characteristics associated with new LARC uptake after the Affordable Care Act have not been well-studied. We hypothesized that awareness of no-cost intrauterine device (IUD) coverage would be associated with new LARC use. Data included were from 883 women not using a LARC at baseline who participated in the MyNewOptions study, a 2-year study of privately insured women in Pennsylvania. Multivariable analysis assessed whether the following baseline characteristics predicted new LARC use over 2 years: awareness of no-cost IUD coverage, future pregnancy intention, baseline contraceptive use, contraceptive attitudes, and sociodemographic characteristics. At baseline, 54.4% of participants were using prescription methods; 21.1% nonprescription methods; 12.1% natural family planning, withdrawal, or spermicide alone; and 12.5% no method. A minority (7.2%) was aware of no-cost coverage for IUDs. Over 2 years, 7.2% of participants became new LARC users, but awareness of no-cost coverage for IUDs was not associated with new LARC use (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.27–2.55). New LARC use was associated with already using prescription methods, not intending pregnancy within the next 5 years, prior unintended pregnancy, and desire to change method if cost were not a factor. Among privately insured women, wanting to switch methods if cost were not a factor was associated with new LARC uptake, although awareness of no-cost IUD coverage was not. Providing women with information about their contraceptive coverage benefits may help women to seek and obtain the methods better aligned with their personal needs.