Province announces free birth control coverage
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Women in Manitoba will have free birth control coverage this fall.
“Prescription birth control is a right, not a luxury,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “Money should never be a barrier to accessing reproductive health care. Starting Oct. 1, Manitobans will be able to get some of the most common and effective birth control without having to worry about the cost. This will save people hundreds of dollars and it will ensure you are fully in control of your body and your choices.”
In Budget 2024, the government announced its plan to make prescription birth control free. The initiative is estimated to cost the province $11 million annually. The Manitoba Pharmacare Program will cover the full cost of about 60 commonly used birth-control methods including the pill, intrauterine devices, and hormone injections.
The program will save women hundreds of dollars a year on birth control, according to the province. For example, for a woman who pays $25 a month for oral contraception, under the new program she could save as much as $10,000 over her reproductive lifetime.
What won’t be covered under the plan are condoms and the morning after pill. According to the Women’s Health Clinic, not everyone wants to or is able to use hormonal birth control. Condoms are 79 percent to 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
“It’s unfortunate that condoms and emergency contraception are not included under the plan in its current iteration,” said Kemlin Nembhard, WHC executive director. “We are hoping to see them included in the future, as the costs associated with emergency contraception ($40 to $50 per pill) can be prohibitive for some people.”
Oral contraceptives are not only used for birth control but to regulate menstrual cycles for women as well.
To obtain free coverage, eligible Manitobans who do not already have coverage from another federal or provincial programs can present their prescription and their Manitoba Health Card at a pharmacy for a birth control product.