Michigan Democrats introduce bills requiring insurance to cover over-the-counter contraception

(Michigan Advance) State Sens. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) have introduced a two-bill package intended to reduce financial barriers for over the counter hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraception.

According to a statement for Michigan Senate Democrats, these bills would build on recent efforts to ensure residents have access to reproductive health care and family planning methods, including repealing the state’s 1931 abortion ban and passing both the Reproductive Health Act and the Family Protection Act.

If signed into law, Senate Bills 973 and 974 would require Medicaid and private health insurance providers to offer coverage for contraception and emergency contraception, including over the counter options and regardless of whether it was prescribed. While federal law requires Medicaid and most private health insurance plans to cover Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraceptive methods with a prescription, there is no federal requirement that plans cover non-prescription contraception. ..............(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/michigan-democrats-introduce-bills-requiring-insurance-coverage-for-contraception/