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France to Offer Free Contraception for Women Up to 25 France to Offer Free Contraception for Women Up to 25
(about 4 hours later)
France will begin offering free contraceptives for women up to the age of 25 starting next year to help young women with the financial costs of protecting against pregnancy, a health official said on Thursday. France will begin offering free contraceptives for women up to the age of 25 starting next year to help young women with the financial costs of protecting against pregnancy, the country’s top health official said on Thursday.
“It is unbearable that young women cannot protect themselves, cannot have contraception if they choose to do so because it is too expensive for them,” said Oliver Véran, the country’s health minister, on France 2, a public broadcaster. The government had noticed a decline in the use of contraceptives among “a certain number of young women,” he said. “It is unbearable that young women cannot protect themselves, cannot have contraception if they choose to do so because it is too expensive for them,” said Olivier Véran, the country’s health minister, on France 2, a public broadcaster. The government had noticed a decline in the use of contraceptives among “a certain number of young women,” he said.
The government said it would set aside about 21 million euros, or almost $25 million, to pay for contraceptives and consultations on their use. The age of 25 was chosen as a threshold, Mr. Véran said, “because it is an age that corresponds, in terms of economic life, social life and income, with more autonomy.”The government said it would set aside about 21 million euros, or almost $25 million, to pay for contraceptives and consultations on their use. The age of 25 was chosen as a threshold, Mr. Véran said, “because it is an age that corresponds, in terms of economic life, social life and income, with more autonomy.”
Many household health plans stop coverage for dependents in their 20s, and Mr. Véran said that many women gave up contraception during these years because of the expense after losing coverage.” The announcement was in stark opposition to the debate over women’s reproductive rights in some other countries. In the United States, a near total ban on abortion in Texas came into effect last week making it the most restrictive state in the U.S. Poland’s government implemented a ban on almost all abortions in January, spurring widespread protests.
All types of contraceptives would be covered by the measure, the health ministry said. The measure announced Thursday extends a move in 2012 to offer free contraceptives to girls between the ages of 15 and 18, along with reimbursing the cost of abortion. In Mexico, however, the Supreme Court decriminalized abortion on Tuesday, though states would still have to apply the ruling.
Family planning clinics and women in France welcomed the new measure, with some saying they hoped for even more coverage. “We want free contraception for everyone,” said Marianne Niosi, director of the National Confederation of Family Planning.
Young adults faced complicated situations, said Ms. Niosi, “either because as students they have no money, or because they are entitled to their parents’ medical insurance and a form of control can be exercised over their choices.”
In France, the government funds public health care, but families can also opt to buy additional private coverage for themselves and their dependents.
But many household health plans stop coverage for dependents in their 20s, and Mr. Véran said that some women gave up contraception during these years because of the expense.
All types of contraceptives would be covered by the measure, the health ministry said. The measure announced Thursday extends a move in 2012 to offer free contraceptives to girls between the ages of 15 and 18, along with reimbursing the cost of abortion. Women will be fully reimbursed for any costs they pay toward contraceptives.
For women who do not want to get pregnant, 97 percent use some kind of contraceptive, according to the French National Institute of Geographic Studies.
But though still popular, oral contraception use has fallen in recent years following media coverage in 2012 about an increased risk of blood clots from a newer version of the pill. The risk was comparatively low: about 9 to 12 in 10,000 compared with 5 to 7 in 10,000 for an earlier version. Still, analysts said some women had turned to other birth control methods.
Younger women under 30 in particular have turned to condoms or long-acting reproductive contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices, over oral contraceptives, according to a 2016 survey of 4,315 women from Public Health France.