France: free contraception for women up to 25 years

The French Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, has announced that the age by which the state fully bears the costs of contraception for women will be raised to 25 years. Currently, Public Health covers the cost of contraception for up to 18 years. “Hormonal contraception and the tests necessary to prescribe it will be free, but also all the treatments and methods prescribed related to contraception up to the age of 25,” Véran told the public broadcaster France 2.
In France, all costs for contraception of underage girls are covered by public health, in 2020 the government had already extended the gratuity to children under 15 years of age. “There is a drop in contraception by some young women and the first reason – Véran complained – is financial. It is unacceptable ». The limit was set at 25 years since, the minister said, “it is an age that corresponds, in terms of economic, social and income life, to greater autonomy”. For Véran, the measure announced today will cost 21 million euros for the state coffers: it will be operational from 1 January 2022.