This article is part of a series of work from the Center for American Progress exposing how the sweeping, far-right Project 2025 policy agenda would harm all Americans. This new authoritarian playbook published by the Heritage Foundation would destroy the 250-year-old system of checks and balances upon which U.S. democracy has relied and give politicians, judges, and corporations more control over Americans’ lives.
For more than a decade, most people have been able to access contraception and other preventive health services at no cost. This guaranteed coverage has been a lifeline for millions of women. But extremists want to restrict women’s access to contraception—limiting their right to control their own futures.
In “Project 2025: A Presidential Transition Project,” far-right extremists outline their intent to exclude some forms of emergency contraception from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most private health insurance plans to provide no-cost coverage—without copayment, coinsurance, or deductible—for recommended preventive services. This benefit includes the full range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved birth control methods and counseling, including emergency contraception. Rescinding no-cost coverage could have lifelong consequences for women nationwide. A new Center for American Progress analysis estimates that if Project 2025 were enacted, nearly 48 million women of reproductive age would lose their guaranteed no-cost access to emergency contraception.
It is unlikely that restrictions on contraception would end here.
Without guaranteed no-cost coverage, millions of women may not have access to emergency contraception when they need it. According to a national survey, nearly one-quarter of reproductive-age women who have ever had sex with a man report having used emergency contraception at some point. In other words, nearly 10 million women with guaranteed free contraception coverage today have used emergency contraception at some point in the past.
Under Project 2025, millions of women would lose emergency contraception (EC) coverage
75.42M
Number of women aged 15–49
47.8M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
9.72M
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.15M
Number of women aged 15–49
754K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
153K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
162K
Number of women aged 15–49
95K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
59%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
19K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.64M
Number of women aged 15–49
981K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
60%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
199K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
672K
Number of women aged 15–49
378K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
56%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
77K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
9.13M
Number of women aged 15–49
5.56M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
61%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
1.13M
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.38M
Number of women aged 15–49
910K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
66%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
185K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
807K
Number of women aged 15–49
518K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
105K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
216K
Number of women aged 15–49
138K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
28K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
199K
Number of women aged 15–49
140K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
70%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
28K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
4.69M
Number of women aged 15–49
2.99M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
607K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.61M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.66M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
336K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
299K
Number of women aged 15–49
193K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
39K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
434K
Number of women aged 15–49
290K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
67%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
59K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.86M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.85M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
375K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.53M
Number of women aged 15–49
990K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
201K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
700K
Number of women aged 15–49
478K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
68%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
97K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
653K
Number of women aged 15–49
449K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
69%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
91K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
998K
Number of women aged 15–49
582K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
58%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
118K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.04M
Number of women aged 15–49
555K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
53%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
113K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
280K
Number of women aged 15–49
181K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
37K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.39M
Number of women aged 15–49
930K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
67%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
189K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.61M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.12M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
70%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
228K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.19M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.38M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
280K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.25M
Number of women aged 15–49
861K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
69%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
175K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
675K
Number of women aged 15–49
410K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
61%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
83K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.37M
Number of women aged 15–49
928K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
68%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
189K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
240K
Number of women aged 15–49
151K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
31K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
442K
Number of women aged 15–49
308K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
70%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
63K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
722K
Number of women aged 15–49
426K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
59%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
87K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
291K
Number of women aged 15–49
211K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
72%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
43K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.05M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.36M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
67%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
277K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
465K
Number of women aged 15–49
221K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
47%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
45K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
4.46M
Number of women aged 15–49
2.78M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
62%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
566K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.45M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.56M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
318K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
174K
Number of women aged 15–49
126K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
72%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
26K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.57M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.62M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
330K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
918K
Number of women aged 15–49
529K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
58%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
108K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
958K
Number of women aged 15–49
614K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
125K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
2.81M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.89M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
67%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
385K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
247K
Number of women aged 15–49
165K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
67%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
34K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.17M
Number of women aged 15–49
733K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
149K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
188K
Number of women aged 15–49
132K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
70%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
27K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.6M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.01M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
63%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
205K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
7.22M
Number of women aged 15–49
4.29M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
59%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
872K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
845K
Number of women aged 15–49
623K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
74%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
127K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
139K
Number of women aged 15–49
89K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
64%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
18K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.99M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.29M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
65%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
262K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.8M
Number of women aged 15–49
1.18M
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
66%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
240K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
367K
Number of women aged 15–49
212K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
58%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
43K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
1.27M
Number of women aged 15–49
874K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
69%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
178K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
124K
Number of women aged 15–49
85K
Number of reproductive-age women who could lose guaranteed no-cost EC coverage
68%
Proportion of reproductive-age women who could lose EC coverage
17K
Number of reproductive-age women who wouldn't have been guaranteed no-cost EC when they needed it
Make no mistake: Project 2025 isn’t just about preventive care coverage. It is another attempt by right-wing extremists to undermine women’s bodily autonomy. Emergency contraception is completely safe and effective at preventing a pregnancy before it occurs, and extremists want to take this option away. It is unlikely that restrictions on contraception would end here: Bills introduced in the past two years in Louisiana and Oklahoma would restrict access to several types of emergency contraception, including some intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Methodology
The authors used 2022 data from the American Community Survey to estimate the number of women of reproductive age (defined as ages 15 to 49) with employer-sponsored insurance (46 million nationally) or direct purchase insurance in each state and the District of Columbia. The authors assumed that the 8.2 million women with direct purchase insurance were in qualified health plans subject to the ACA’s no-cost preventive service coverage guarantee. The authors subtracted the number of reproductive-age women with employer-sponsored insurance plans that are “grandfathered” and exempt from the preventive service coverage guarantee using a 14 percent estimate from the 2020 KFF Employer Health Benefits Annual Survey, the most recent data point available. That resulted in an estimate of 47.8 million total women of reproductive age in private plans with guaranteed no-cost contraception coverage.
The authors then applied national estimates from the National Survey on Family Growth from 2015 to 2019 for the proportion of reproductive-age women who have had vaginal intercourse with a man (87.8 percent) and, of these, the proportion of reproductive-age women who have ever taken emergency contraception (23.5 percent) to estimate that 20.3 percent of all reproductive-age women have ever used emergency contraception. Applying that share to the total implies that 9.7 million women in plans with guaranteed no-cost contraception coverage have used emergency contraception in the past.
The authors assumed that national estimates of grandfathered plans, sexual activity, and emergency contraception use were consistent in each state. This analysis does not account for employer-based health plans with religious exemptions from covering contraception or other exclusions.