LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced a new program, Take Control of your Birth Control, to ensure Michigan families have access to free contraception including over-the-counter oral birth control pills, emergency contraception, condoms, and family planning educational resources through community partners and federally qualified health centers across the state during the month of November.

Take Control of Your Birth Control was made possible thanks to the work of the Michigan legislature, who secured $5.6 million in this year’s bipartisan budget to support an expansion of the Department of Health and Human Services’ family planning program.

The goal is to ensure individuals, regardless of their circumstances, have access to tools that allow them to make informed decisions about their health and future.

Beginning in November, organizations will distribute emergency contraception, condoms, and over-the-counter oral contraceptive, for free to the general public, regardless of insurance and will continue as long as supplies are available.

Alongside free supplies, Take Control of Your Birth Control will give residents the information they need to continue to get vital supplies covered going forward. Michigan families are encouraged to go to michigan.gov/takecontrol to find an interactive map of organizations participating in the effort and learn more about how to access these essential resources.

Along with free birth control, the initiative will also provide information on how to apply for coverage through Medicaid and the Plan First program, which offer health care coverage for a variety of family planning services, including birth control, STI testing and treatment.

“Family planning is a fundamental right,” said state Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette. “Through Plan First!, more Michiganders have access to affordable reproductive health services, including birth control and STI testing. This is vital health care for those who are uninsured or underinsured and for communities like those in the U.P. that often experience gaps in health care coverage. I am grateful for the increased access this program has provided over the past year, and I look forward to seeing it continue to help folks make the best decisions for themselves and their families.”

Plan First! is a limited Medicaid benefit covering family planning services for those who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid. It is available to individuals of any age or gender who meet monthly income requirements and are Michigan residents.

Apply for Plan First!: online at Michigan.gov/mibridges; call 855-789-5610 or go a local MDHHS county office.

For additional information about Plan First, go Michigan.gov/planfirst.

The Affordable Care Act guarantees coverage of women’s preventive services, including free birth control and contraceptive counseling, by nearly all health insurance plans. Michiganders can shop for a health insurance plan by visiting the Health Insurance Marketplace or by calling 800-318-2596.

For other family planning resources, program, go to https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/childrenfamilies/familyhealth/familyplanning.