Michigan Dems pitch ‘Freedom to Plan’ bills to lower cost of birth control 

Two bills introduced in the state Senate would require insurance providers and Medicaid to cover over-the-counter contraceptive medication—with or without a prescription.

MICHIGAN—State lawmakers are leading the charge to further protect Michiganders’ reproductive rights with two new bills that are designed to break down financial barriers to over-the-counter birth control and help lower costs for families statewide.

State Sens. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) on Monday introduced Senate Bills 973 and 974, which have been collectively dubbed the “Freedom to Plan Act.” They’ve since been referred to the Senate Committee on Health Policy for further review.

If passed and signed into law, the bills would require private insurers and Medicaid to provide coverage for over-the-counter oral hormonal contraceptives, or birth control, and emergency contraceptives, commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” with or without a prescription.

“Access to contraceptive care is critical to ensuring women have the power to plan their future,” Cavanagh said in a statement announcing the bills. “As the youngest woman serving in the Senate and still planning my family, this legislation is not just about health—it’s about ensuring every Michigander has the freedom to make choices about their bodies and their lives.”

Federal law requires Medicaid and most private insurance companies to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods with a prescription. But lawmakers said there is no federal requirement they cover non-prescription contraception—leaving many Michiganders without the ability to access care. The Freedom to Plan Act aims to rectify the issue, Irwin said in a statement. 

“People should have access to every tool to plan and make informed decisions about their reproductive health,” Irwin said. “By expanding access to basic healthcare such as birth control, we can ensure everyone in our state has the ability to determine what their future looks like.” 

In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which triggered a series of abortion bans across the country, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year approved the first-ever over-the-counter birth control pills—a move from the Biden-Harris administration that was designed to help remove unnecessary barriers to contraception.

Beyond preventing unintended pregnancies, oral hormonal contraception is also often used to treat other health concerns including premenstrual syndrome, pain from endometriosis, and migraines. It can also reduce the risk of gynecologic disorders, including certain cancers.

The state Senate bills introduced this week mirror laws enacted in six other states and also leave room for advancements in over-the-counter contraceptives, pending FDA approval.

“By removing unnecessary barriers to contraception that disproportionately impact low-income individuals and marginalized communities, we can build a more equitable care system that empowers and supports the holistic well-being of all Michiganders,” Cavanagh said.

While abortion is now almost entirely banned in 18 states, Michiganders voted in 2022 to enshrine abortion rights into the state Constitution and elected Democratic lawmakers to take control of both chambers of the state Legislature, in part, to help keep those rights protected.

The bills introduced this week also build on a series of actions taken by Democratic lawmakers to protect reproductive rights—including repealing a nearly 100-year-old statewide abortion ban and passing other bills to protect access to reproductive care, including in-vitro fertilization. 

In a press release, lawmakers also said that boosting access to contraception in Michigan will also save taxpayer dollars “in the long run” by providing women with an increased ability to plan their pregnancies, which will lead to subsequent higher education or employment opportunities.

“We applaud our legislative partners for their leadership in introducing bills to increase equitable access to contraception for more Michiganders,” Paula Thornton Greear, president of Planned Parenthood of Michigan, said in a statement this week. “Everyone deserves the freedom to decide if, when, and how to grow their families, and this legislation will ensure Michiganders can afford the contraception they need to control their sexual and reproductive health.” 

READ MORE: How Trump and Project 2025 threaten Michiganders’ reproductive rights

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