Insurance coverage for 12-month continuous supply of birth control

House Bill 302

Sponsored by Rep. Alice Buckley (D - Bozeman)

This bill passed and has been signed into law. It will go into effect beginning January 1, 2024.

While prescribed birth control methods have an incredibly high success rate, the key is consistency. Missing just one birth control pill in a cycle, for example, can result in an unintended pregnancy. With HB 302, Rep. Buckley wanted to ensure that Montanans are able to access 12-month supplies of their chosen prescription method to help prevent any gaps. Her bill had sponsorship from both sides of the aisle and even passed out of House Health Services committee with unanimous support.

"HB 302 is a huge win for all Montanans who rely on prescription birth control for family planning and managing health conditions. Like any other type of basic healthcare, Montanans deserve easy and long-term access to the birth control they need to care for their bodies. In a legislative session that sought to minimize and eliminate reproductive freedom, HB 302 gives Montanans a full twelve months' access to prescription birth control and represents a small but important step towards increasing access to the healthcare Montanans deserve.“

— Rep. Alice Buckley (D-Bozeman)

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In the News

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Bill to provide 12 months of birth control passes Montana Senate
Missoula Current
Bill to provide 12 months of birth control passes Montana Senate
Missoula Current

“And we all understand, while abstinence is the most effective form of birth control, it's kind of an unrealistic expectation a lot of the time. Plus, a lot of women have health issues that are controlled or helped out by taking birth control pills also. And those include things like ovarian cysts, endometriosis. They need the pills to help them function properly and correctly. And it's a matter of health. So this bill will basically help prevent delays in coverage,” Small said.

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Missoula Current
Bill requiring private insurance to cover 12 months of birth control advances
Montana Public Radio
Bill requiring private insurance to cover 12 months of birth control advances
Montana Public Radio

Rep. Alice Buckley, a Democrat from Bozeman, is carrying House Bill 302 that would in some cases quadruple the maximum number of months of birth control supply a patient could pick up at one time – whether that be a pill, patch or ring.

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Montana Public Radio