Plan First! celebrates successful first year, providing 20,000 Michigan residents with free family planning services

Program available to all eligible individuals regardless of age or gender

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Plan First! program, operating for just over a year and serving almost 20,000 Michiganders, is a limited Medicaid benefit covering family planning services for those who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid. Eligible Michiganders can take advantage of in-office visits with providers, access to birth control and other contraceptive products, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment and other services.

"In Michigan, we continue to do all we can to protect and expand access to reproductive freedom," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "All families should have the resources they need to decide when and if they want to start a family and access to other important health care services including birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing. Plan First! was an important step in our efforts to increase access to health care coverage and eligible individuals are urged to apply for coverage to ensure access to reproductive health care."

The Plan First! family planning program covers a broad range of services, which include U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraceptive products and natural family planning methods for individuals who want to prevent pregnancy and to space births. It also includes pregnancy testing and counseling, sexually transmitted infection services, some cancer screenings, voluntary sterilization procedures and follow-up care, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis, vaccines and other preconception health services.

To apply for Plan First! coverage, an individual needs to complete a Medicaid application, which is available on the MI Bridges portal or via a paper form. Plan First! family planning coverage is available to individuals who:

• Are of any age or gender.
• Are not pregnant at the time of application.
• Are a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant.
• Are a Michigan resident.
• Are not covered under another Medicaid benefit.
• Meet income eligibility requirements (income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level).

All Plan First! enrollees have free choice of family planning providers and may obtain covered family planning services from any qualified Medicaid-enrolled provider, including Title X family planning clinics, local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Tribal Health Centers and primary care or obstetrical providers. Individuals who qualify for Plan First can also enroll in coverage on the Health Care Marketplace.

Learn more about Plan First! benefits and services at Michigan.gov/PlanFirst.

# # #