Have You Been Denied?

California law requires public and private health insurance plans to cover the following birth control methods for people assigned female at birth (AFAB) without out-of-pocket costs or restrictions:

• Over-the-counter birth control pill, external condoms, internal condoms and spermicide
• A 12-month supply of birth control pills, contraceptive patches or vaginal rings at one time

Full contraceptive coverage for people assigned male at birth (AMAB) include:

• Vasectomy

Private health insurance or Medi-Cal plans CANNOT:

• Refuse to cover a prescribed birth control method
• Charge a fee or co-pay for birth control when received at an in-network pharmacy
• Require people who are AFAB to try a certain method first before covering the preferred method of choice (like trying the pill before the patch, ring, implant or IUD)
• Require people who are AFAB to return to the pharmacy or doctor's office every 30 - 90 days to pick up pills, rings, or patches.
• Refuse to cover clinical services related to the use of contraception, including consultations, examinations, procedures, device insertion, ultrasound, anesthesia, patient education, referrals, counseling, and follow-up services.

Please Note: These policies and contraceptive coverage requirements DO NOT apply to some employer based health plans OR plans provided by religious employers.

GOT DENIED? We want to know if a health insurance plan is not following the law or if your employer or campus health plan DOES NOT offer you these contraceptive coverage benefits. Please share your experiences with us.