Media contacts:
Leslie Klote
Beacon Reproductive Health Network
(573) 694-4898
lklote@beaconreprohealth.org
Daniel Waxler
Missouri Foundation for Health
(314) 345-5580
dwaxler@mffh.org
New Poll: 85% of Missourians Support Birth Control Access, Highlighting Need for Action
A new poll from The Right Time finds widespread concern about future barriers as lawmakers consider measures to expand birth control access in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY (April 30, 2026) – A new poll released through Missouri Foundation for Health’s The Right Time initiative shows strong public support for access to birth control while highlighting concerns about future barriers to care – underscoring the need for lawmakers to advance policies that expand access to birth control across the state.
According to the poll, 85.3% of respondents are supportive of Missouri residents 18 and over having access to all methods of birth control, and 77.3% believe elected officials should be supportive of access to birth control.
At the same time, many Missourians are worried about the future of access. More than one-third of respondents (36.5%) believe birth control will become more difficult or impossible to obtain, and 78% say they are concerned about elected officials enacting laws that restrict access to birth control.
The polling also highlights real barriers people currently face when trying to access birth control. Nearly one in four respondents (24.9%) say cost or insurance has made it difficult to obtain the birth control method they wanted, while one-third (33.6%) report concerns about the cost of birth control.
“Missourians are sending a clear message: people want access to birth control, and they want leaders who will support policies that make it easier to get the care they need,” said Michelle Trupiano, Executive Director of Beacon Reproductive Health Network. “When people are already facing barriers like cost, insurance coverage, and clinic access, strengthening Missouri’s reproductive health safety net is more important than ever.”
Advocates say the findings highlight the importance of advancing policies that expand birth control access in Missouri. With the Missouri General Assembly currently considering legislation that could affect access to reproductive health care, measures like Annual Supply of Contraception – which allows patients to receive a year’s supply of birth control at once – and the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act – which would ensure survivors are offered emergency contraception in hospital emergency departments – would help reduce barriers and ensure Missourians can access care when they need it.
The poll shows strong support for these approaches, with 73.7% of respondents supporting access to a full year’s supply of birth control and 80.8% supporting access to emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault in emergency departments.
“Policies like Annual Supply of Contraception and the CARE Act are practical solutions that reflect what Missourians want – reliable access to birth control and the freedom to make decisions about their health and futures,” Trupiano said.
Programs like The Right Time initiative also strengthen Missouri’s reproductive health safety net. Through a network of participating health centers across the state, The Right Time helps patients receive same-day contraceptive care and choose the method that works best for them while reducing cost barriers by offering free or low-cost options.
About the Survey
The results presented here are based on an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents ages 18-35 conducted in March 2026 by AYTM, an independent research organization. The margin of error is approximately +/- 3.10% at a 95% confidence level.
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About The Right Time
The Right Time is an initiative of Missouri Foundation for Health and is led by Beacon Reproductive Health Network. The initiative works with health centers across Missouri to improve access to quality contraceptive care by reducing cost barriers and expanding access to the full range of birth control methods. Find a participating health center near you: TheRightTime.org.
About Missouri Foundation for Health
Missouri Foundation for Health is building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment. Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to eliminate inequities within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes.
About Beacon Reproductive Health Network
Beacon Reproductive Health Network’s mission is to make sexual and reproductive healthcare accessible to all people—regardless of income, geography, identity, or circumstances. We’re increasing access through our three main programs: Title X (Missouri & Oklahoma), The Right Time initiative, and the Free EC project. We also strengthen the healthcare safety net by reducing barriers and advocate for statewide policies that expand access to affordable sexual and reproductive care. Learn more at BeaconReproHealth.org.
