ONTARIO – Contraception and family planning have been a high talking point in recent years. Since Doug Ford’s Conservative government repealed OHIP+ in 2019, a program launched under the previous Liberal government which would cover the cost of prescriptions for anyone under 25, many sexual health educators voiced their concerns that repeal would impact young females the hardest.
“For decades, people have paid the price for family planning,” said Horwath. “Just imagine what it’s like for people trying to cover the sky-high cost of living, sky-high rents, and having to shell out $30 a month, every month for years on end, for birth control.”
In Ontario, OHIP does not cover contraception; however, vasectomies are covered.
Horwath also said that these changes to OHIP can be done within weeks of the June election.
Her plan will cover all prescription contraception, including emergency birth control like Plan B, the pill, intrauterine devices (IUD), implants, shots, patches or rings.
Horwath said the change would remove any cost barriers that limit people’s ability to make free choices about their reproductive health.
