Yes, Medi-Cal covers IUDs at no cost to you. The coverage includes the device itself, the insertion procedure, and all related supplies. Removal is also fully covered when you’re ready. This applies to both hormonal and copper IUDs across multiple brands.
What Exactly Is Covered
Medi-Cal covers all FDA-approved IUDs as part of its family planning benefits. That includes both the device and the office visit for insertion or removal. Specifically, the program covers five types of IUDs: Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, and Skyla (all hormonal options that release a small amount of progestin) and ParaGard (the copper, hormone-free option). Each one has its own billing code in the Medi-Cal system, meaning your provider can dispense any of them directly during your appointment.
If you later want your IUD removed, whether because it’s expired, you want to switch methods, or you’re planning a pregnancy, that procedure is covered separately. And if you choose to have a new IUD inserted at the same visit, Medi-Cal covers both the removal and the new device.
No Copays or Out-of-Pocket Costs
As of 2023, Medi-Cal providers cannot charge any out-of-pocket cost-sharing for covered services. That means zero copays for your IUD, the insertion, follow-up visits, or removal. Federal Medicaid law also requires states to cover family planning services and supplies without any cost to the enrollee, so this protection exists at both the state and federal level.
There is one exception worth knowing about. Some Medi-Cal beneficiaries have a “share of cost,” which works like a monthly deductible. If you fall into this category, you may need to meet that amount before coverage kicks in. Most Medi-Cal enrollees do not have a share of cost, but if you’re unsure, check your benefits identification card or call your managed care plan.
You Can See Any Medi-Cal Provider
For family planning services specifically, you’re allowed to see any provider that accepts Medi-Cal, even if they’re outside your managed care plan’s network. This is a unique rule that applies to contraception and related reproductive health care. So if your regular doctor doesn’t offer IUD insertions, or if you’d prefer to go to a community health clinic or Planned Parenthood, you can do that without a referral and without switching plans.
Getting an IUD Right After Giving Birth
If you’ve just had a baby, you can have an IUD inserted before you leave the hospital. The CDC considers immediate postpartum IUD placement a safe and appropriate option, including for people who plan to breastfeed. Having the IUD placed right after delivery can be convenient because you’re already in a medical setting, and it eliminates the need for a separate appointment during a busy postpartum period. If your hospital or birthing center accepts Medi-Cal, this should be covered as part of your delivery-related care.
If You Don’t Qualify for Full Medi-Cal
California runs a separate program called Family PACT that covers contraception, including IUDs, for people who don’t have full Medi-Cal coverage. To qualify, you need to be a California resident with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen, and enrollment happens at the provider’s office, often during the same visit where you receive services.
Family PACT covers the same range of IUD brands and handles both insertion and removal. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, the program’s income guidelines are updated annually and are available through participating clinics. You can find a provider near you at teensource.org/find-a-clinic or by searching for Family PACT providers in your county.
No Prior Authorization Needed
IUDs are listed on the Medi-Cal pharmacy formulary as a standard benefit, and contraceptive services generally do not require prior authorization. That means your provider shouldn’t need to submit paperwork and wait for approval before inserting your IUD. In most cases, if your clinic has the device in stock, you can have it placed the same day you request it. Some clinics may need to order a specific brand through a specialty pharmacy (Kyleena and ParaGard, for example, are distributed this way), which could mean a short wait, but this is a supply issue rather than an approval issue.