No more paying for prescription birth control: B.C. to make Canadian history April 1
Paying for prescription birth control will be a thing of the past in British Columbia starting Saturday, marking a Canadian first.
Pharmacare is going to cover the cost of six different contraceptive methods beginning April 1., including copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal IUDs, plus hormone injections or implants, as well as the morning-after pill.
The latter method is the only one that won’t require a prescription, and some contraceptive brands are only partially covered.
Premier David Eby was in Vancouver Friday raising awareness for the initiative, which the province announced it planned to do on Feb. 28.
“It’s good news for everybody in British Columbia,” Eby told reporters outside the VCC-Clark SkyTrain station, as volunteers and members of his team held up signs reading ‘Free prescription contraception.”
“You don’t need access to a family doctor, we know not everyone has a family doctor,” said Eby. Adding his government was working to fix that problem. “But don’t let that stand in the way of going to a sexual health clinic in your community to access the support and services.”
Later this spring, the government says pharmacists will also be able to prescribe contraceptives, improving access to people living in rural and remote communities.
Contraceptives can be prescribed for any reason, including osteoporosis prevention, according to the B.C. government’s website.
Pharmacare still won’t cover cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, patches, rings or sponges.
Being married to a doctor, Eby says he’s heard many stories of people who couldn’t afford the birth control that was best for their health, resulting in some choosing to abstain from using any.
“Wherever we can find an opportunity to provide a choice to people—but more than that, support them with the cost of daily life and ensure they’re not compromising their health because of cost—that’s what public system is all about, and that’s a point of pride for all Canadians,” the premier said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.