Investment boosts health outcomes, fights gender inequality, saves as much as $260 per year

VANCOUVER — A re-elected BC NDP government will build on its progress delivering better, more affordable access to health care by making prescription contraception free for all.

“This is about fairness. For too long, the cost of contraception has fallen disproportionately on the backs of women, trans and non-binary people,” said Katrina Chen, BC NDP candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed. “It’s time to make contraception free for all. Instead of only working for those at the top like the BC Liberals, our plan is moving BC forward for everyone.”

While condoms can be easily found for little or no cost, and vasectomies are covered under MSP, prescription contraception is not covered. Free oral contraceptive pills would save someone as much as $10,000 over their lifetime, or $260 per year, while the lifetime savings for someone using an intrauterine device (IUD) could be upwards of $3,000.

“Cost was already a barrier for British Columbians who need access to contraception,” said Tesicca Truong, BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-Langara. “John Horgan’s plan invests in better heath care for everyone. We can’t afford Andrew Wilkinson’s tax breaks for the wealthy that will mean less money for critical health services like this.”

British Columbia also became a global leader in the fight to end period poverty during the BC NDP’s first term. Students have had access to free menstrual products in washrooms of all public schools since 2019, and the BC NDP plan builds on that progress by creating a Period Poverty Task Force to develop solutions for further improving access to menstrual products.