Michigan Expands Access to Oral Contraception

LANSING, Mich. — The state of Michigan on Monday extended access to generic, prescription oral contraceptives to 200,000 additional Michiganders.

The action by the Department of Management, Technology and Budget is effective Sept. 1, and comes on the heels of an executive directive from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that state agencies do everything they can to ensure women have control over their own bodies — including reproductive freedom.

“Every Michigan woman deserves to be able to make decisions about her body, including when and if to start a family,” the governor said in a written statement.

“Today, we celebrate a step forward by the state of Michigan to cover birth control for the 200,000 retirees and their families covered by the MPSERS non-Medicare plan.

“In the last year, hundreds of requests for birth control coverage were denied, preventing those who get coverage from MPSERS plans, such as a retired teacher’s daughter, from accessing the medication they needed. 

“We need to use every tool in our toolbox to ensure women have control over their own bodies and access to reproductive health care no matter where they live or who they are,” Whitmer said.

 As of Sept. 1, generic, prescription oral contraceptives will be added to the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System Non-Medicare Master Healthcare plan. 

Previously, oral contraceptives were only covered under the Medicare plan. 

While most of the members are retirees and do not often require reproductive health services, the plan also covers spouses and beneficiaries who use the coverage more frequently.  

The department is now working with Optum Rx to locate the nearly 600 Michiganders who were denied contraception medication in the past 12 months and notify them of the change in policy.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.