Continuing to build on a list of policy wins to protect Michiganders’ reproductive freedom, Michigan Senate Democrats introduced legislation to ensure all residents have access to contraception and the “Freedom to Plan” their futures. This legislative package would break down financial barriers to over-the-counter (OTC) oral hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, as well as ensure more inclusive postpartum access to long-acting contraception methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. 

But to get this legislation over the finish line, we need your help. Your voice is crucial in this fight. Use this toolkit to learn how you can talk with friends and family about these bills, find content you can share on social media, and connect with your elected officials to help us shape a future where everyone has the fundamental freedom to make decisions about their own body. 

Legislation Breakdown 

Over-the-Counter Contraception: Senate Bills 973 and 974 would require Medicaid and private insurers to provide coverage for oral hormonal contraception and oral emergency contraception with or without a prescription.  

Postpartum Contraception: Senate Bills 987 and 988 would require Medicaid and private insurers to cover the placement of long-acting reversible contraception like IUDs and implants and accompanying anesthesia services immediately following labor. Senate Bill 1006 would also require hospitals to stock IUDs, a safe and highly effective form of long-acting reversible contraception to ensure this strategy is not only affordable, but accessible.  

Learn more at SenateDems.com/freedom-to-plan-act. 

Show Your Support Online 

Help spread the word about the importance of contraception access! Whether you’re sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, these ready-to-share posts will help you build support for Michigan Senate Democrats’ “Freedom to Plan” package and ensure Michiganders have the autonomy and power to make their own medical decisions. 

Contraception is an integral component of women’s health care. Learn more about how @MISenDems are working to break down financial barriers to contraception so all Michiganders have the #FreedomToPlan their futures ⬇️ 

https://senatedems.com/freedom-to-plan-act/  

My health decisions are mine to make — not a politician’s. That’s why I’m planning to attend @MISenDems’ upcoming virtual town hall and learn more about their work to protect reproductive rights and my #FreedomToPlan. Join me! ⬇️ https://senatedems.com/freedom-to-plan-act/   

If you’re comfortable, we also encourage you to share your personal reproductive health journey on social media — whether you or a partner have relied on contraception to treat a health condition, pursued IVF to grow your family, faced the need for an abortion, or navigated the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth. Don’t forget to use the #FreedomToPlan hashtag and tag @MISenDems!   

Together, we can build a collective narrative and shape a future where everyone has the fundamental freedom to make decisions about their own body. 

Other Ways to Take Action 

Add your name as a supporter and share your story. We encourage everyone who is interested in this issue to become a citizen co-sponsor of the Freedom to Plan Act. You can also share your personal story as we work to connect this issue with the real people it will benefit. Click here to show your support or share your story.  

Attend a virtual town hall and join us for a discussion on our work to expand access to contraception and maternal healthcare. Click here to find upcoming dates.

Reach out to your state Senators! Click here to find out who your senator is. 

Messaging Guidance  

Over-the-Counter Contraception 

• For over six decades, contraception has been an integral component of women’s healthcare, giving them the power to plan their own course in life by allowing them to determine whether to have children and the number and spacing of their children. 
• Beyond preventing unintended pregnancies, oral hormonal contraception is often used to treat other health concerns, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pain from endometriosis, and migraines. 
• But for too many women, contraception is not accessible. A national survey estimates nearly one-third of adult women who have tried to access prescription contraception experience barriers. 
• The introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) contraception has the ability to break down many of these barriers — as long as individuals can afford it. 
• Currently, however, there is no federal requirement that insurance plans cover nonprescription contraception. 
• With the first OTC oral hormonal contraceptive recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, there is no time like the present to take steps to break down financial barriers to OTC contraceptives and emergency contraceptives. 
• Michigan Senate Democrats’ “Freedom to Plan Act,” would require private insurers and Medicaid to provide point-of-sale coverage for oral hormonal contraception and emergency contraception with or without a prescription, helping ensure all Michigan residents have the autonomy, power, and freedom to make choices about their bodies and their lives. 
• By dismantling these barriers, we can ensure contraception is not an out-of-reach luxury, but an accessible component of all Michiganders’ reproductive health care. 

Postpartum Contraception
 

• Immediate postpartum contraception like IUDs and implants is an innovative and equitable strategy to help reduce the rate of unintended short interval pregnancies and improve maternal health. 
• Since its inception, this method has served as a critical component of reproductive health, helping empower patients to choose a course of care that best fits their needs and the needs of their family.  
• As Michigan mothers look to spend time with their newborn and adjust to a new chapter in their life, the last thing they should have to worry about is a short interval pregnancy, which can jeopardize their health and disrupt their new routines.  
• Rather than being forced to schedule a separate appointment weeks after labor, immediate postpartum contraception is a safe, convenient, and effective option new mothers can choose without having to coordinate changing schedules, secure child care or find transportation. 
• Despite the benefits it provides mothers, this service is not included in most health plans’ Labor and Delivery bundle, meaning patients must pay out-of-pocket costs. 
• The personal cost burden leaves this convenient and effective health service out of reach for many families across Michigan.  
• To ensure no family is forced to forgo vital postpartum care due to cost constraints, Michigan Senate Democrats introduced legislation that would require private insurers and Medicaid to cover the placement of long-acting reversible contraception and accompanying anesthesia services immediately following labor. 
• This crucial policy would ensure Michiganders have the autonomy and power to grow their families on their own terms — without interference from politicians or insurance companies. 

Why is this needed? 

Over-the-Counter Contraception 

Over-the-counter (OTC) contraception is instrumental for women who have difficulty accessing contraceptive and family planning services due to economic, social, and geographic barriers. However, there is no federal requirement that insurance plans cover nonprescription contraception — leaving many individuals without the ability to access the care they need.  

With the first OTC oral hormonal contraceptive recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, there is no time like the present to ensure Michiganders can access this medical advancement and have the freedom to plan their future. 

Postpartum Contraception 

Immediate postpartum contraception, also known as IPP-LARC, is the provision of either an implant or intrauterine device (IUD) after child delivery and in the hospital setting prior to inpatient discharge. Since its inception, it has served as an evidence-based and equitable strategy designed to reduce the rate of unintended short interval pregnancies, which pose a health risk to new mothers.  

Despite the benefits this strategy poses, it is not included in most health plans’ Labor and Delivery bundle, meaning patients must pay out-of-pocket costs upwards of $1,300. This legislation will also ensure that IUDs are more readily available for patients. By reducing the cost associated with postpartum contraception, we can ensure Michiganders have the power to make medical decisions that are best for them and their family.