Causes.com
| 1.28.22
Birth Control Free in France for Women Under 25 - Should More Countries Follow?
Do you agree with France’s efforts to make birth control free for women?
What’s the story?
- As of January 1, 2022, France is offering free birth control to women up until age 25, including free medical visits regarding contraception.
- The country already offered free contraceptive methods for girls under 18 years old, and free abortions for women of all ages. Now, enhanced access to birth control includes the pill, IUDs, contraceptive patches, and jabs.
- Health Minister Olivier Vernan said women are using less and less contraception due to the financial burden. He estimates that the French government will set aside around 21 million euros ($25 million USD) for this new measure:
“It’s intolerable that women aren’t able to protect themselves, aren’t able to use contraception if they make that choice, because it would cost too much,” Vernan on France 2.
Who’s impacted?
- Officials believe this change will benefit up to 3 million women. In the announcement, Vernan did not address contraceptive methods for men.
- The health minister did not specify whether this change would apply to trans and nonbinary people. Leslie Fonquerne, a sociologist focused on gender equality, stated that this action is a start, but does not resolve the imbalance of contraceptive burden between men and women.
What are the benefits of free birth control?
- Universal coverage of contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancy and abortion rates, subsequently decreasing the health complications that come with pregnancy and related procedures. Around half of the pregnancies in the United States are not planned–which experts say is a direct result of having zero or inconsistent access to birth control.
- According to the CDC, in 2010, unintended pregnancies cost the U.S. $21 billion in medical costs. Facilitating access to free contraceptives would save taxpayers approximately $11 billion annually, and would greatly benefit the health of those who cannot afford an unplanned pregnancy.
The global perspective
Many countries already offer free birth control, including Britain, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.
- Many of these countries believe that it is a human right to have access to a full range of reproductive health resources. The United Nations stated that a lack of contraceptives can not only lead people to unsafe medical procedures, but also diminishes autonomy and impacts education, employment, food, and housing.
In comparison, France’s new measure is a stark difference from the debate over reproductive rights in other countries.
- In January 2021, the Polish government implemented a restrictive ban on almost all abortions. Women in Poland protested, calling attention to the receding of rights in the country.
- In the United States, a ban on almost all abortions in Texas came into effect just a week before France’s announcement. One anti-abortion group - the Susan B. Anthony List - has worked to keep contraceptives and abortions inaccessible to "protect the lives of unborn children."
What do you think?
Do you agree that birth control should be free in your country?
-Jamie Epstein
(Image: iStock / Pixelimage)
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Health care is expensive and cannot be free. It should be available to all however, and should be supported by our government. Health Care is not available to all in Indiana and is a threat to all in Indiana. The response to Covid by Republican dominated government that has resulted in over 20,000 deaths is evidence. It is not right. In this country right matters.
Being able to control your own reproductive freedom is paramount.
By increasing birth control availability, the abortion rates would drop within our state
Since everyone is so determined to do away with abortions (regardless of rape, incest, or severe deformations) it’s time something be done to stop unwanted pregnancies.
This is a social issue and personal choice issue, not an overall health issue in day to day life. Insulin and allergy shots are way to expensive for the average person.
Yes, we should support free birth control for women under 25. Doing this would mitigate a number of problems, including lessening the number of abortions. Will “pro-lifers” support this? They should but they won’t. And the reason is because, generally speaking, they aren’t pro-lifers; they are pro-birth.
A woman must have control of her body not the government!
Great idea!
it's common sense, Jesus Christmas birth control greatly diminishes the need for abortion pro birth is NOT pro life those are two very distinct & different outcomes & neither one should be confused with the other which they often are in spite of so-called pro lifers neglecting to line themselves up to adopt, foster or care for those already born & walking around the planet
America should have FREE healthcare and it should include free birth control.
As long as we have obstructionist republicans in office, especially the white men in those states with high levels on incest, we will never see women in total control of reproduction and health issues. Need to vote these bastards out of office
Population growth and fewer needs for abortion. Children that are wanted.
Makes sense, much better than woman having abortions! Problem in the US is the evangellicals don't want that either!
I believe all women, this includes women under 25 should have the right to birth control.
YEP!
How can you say it's free while at the same time noting that 21 million euros have been set aside to cover the cost? More importantly, where do you think that money came from? Did the government create that money, or did they steal it from productive people in order to redistribute their wealth?
Totally agree but I'd make it free to all women of child bearing age.
Let me guess: the only people who disagree are men…? Of course. The LOVE making decisions about woman’s healthcare. 🙄
Women inherently have the right to prevent unwanted pregnancy. A pharmacological birth control method is the ultimate, and sometimes the only, safeguard against nonconsensual impregnation.
I had my children at age 15 and 16. Had free contraception been available to me as well as Sex Ed in elementary schools on up every year in our schools I may have had a very different life. I have happy well adjusted adult children who are parents themselves now. They had me to teach them everything sex and a lot of parents are naive or afraid to talk to their children or complete denial to what their children are doing. We have to have these things for today’s children who have no regard for their bodies and help reduce not only teenage pregnancy but abortion as well.