(L-R) Alberta NDP Critic for Women’s Issues Janis Irwin, candidates Jaelene Tweedle for Red Deer-North and Michelle Baer for Red Deer-South speak at the Golden Circle in Red Deer on Thursday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Universal coverage

Alberta NDP reconfirms committment in Red Deer for free prescription contraception

Mar 17, 2023 | 4:52 PM

Members of the Alberta NDP visited Red Deer on Thursday to reconfirm their commitment to offering universal access for free prescription contraception across the province, should they form government in May.

Candidates Jaelene Tweedle for Red Deer-North, Michelle Baer for Red Deer-South and Critic for Women’s Issues Janis Irwin shared the message at a press conference held at the Golden Circle (4620 47a Ave).

“Universal coverage for prescription contraception will save Albertans money and help them to fully participate in our economy, and every aspect of our society,” said Irwin. “This policy will ensure that more Albertans are in control of their own lives and their own economic future.”

The NDP says universal access would cost the government around $34 million annually to cover oral hormone pills, contraceptive injections, copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUD), subdermal implants, and Plan B.

“That’s money back in the pockets of Albertans, namely women,” said Irwin. “Its healthcare and cost should never be a barrier to the healthcare Albertans need, when and where they need it.”

Individuals aged 55 and over

Central Alberta Older Adult Employment Strategy Assessment Project full report released

2h ago

UPDATE

Red Deer Polytechnic confirms student death on-campus

6h ago

retrofitting building

Carnival Cinemas applies to rezone for residential development

7h ago

The province of British Columbia recently approved a similar program and Irwin states coverage is also found in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some Scandinavian countries.

Without prescription coverage, the NDP says Albertans pay around $240 per year for oral hormone pills and upwards of $500 for an IUD. They say studies have shown that for a woman paying for the birth control pill, it will cost roughly $10,000 over the course of her lifetime.

Tweedle said that the announcement of universal coverage has been met with positive feedback among the people she talks to.

“I was told that many women in college and university would sometimes have to pick their birth control pill over their groceries,” she said, adding many women take a form of birth control to help with severe period symptoms like acute cramps, pelvic pain, or heavy bleeding. She adds that many women have not gone to work or school due to the symptoms, which does not foster good economic policy.

“Without these prescriptions, these women could not attend or focus on their classes and future endeavours.”

Irwin also described feedback she received as one woman had delayed her IUD replacement due to unaffordability and another who said she was rationing oral contraceptive pills. She said one mother described how the plan could benefit her daughters, one woman shared that the plan would save her $400 a year, and another said that birth control pills are not covered by non-group private insurance plans.

The Critic claimed that the NDP asked UCP Premier Danielle Smith to adopt the commitment so both parties could provide the same outcome regardless of the election. Alberta Health said there are no plans, at this time, to further expand access to free of charge contraceptive drug and health products.

“Albertans with a government-sponsored health benefit plan have coverage for many contraceptive drugs and health products including oral contraceptive pills (OCP) and intrauterine devices (IUDs). All OCPs and IUDs listed on the Alberta Drug Benefit List (ADBL) are available to all members of government-sponsored drug plans. For those with a low-income health benefit plan, these items are free of charge,” said Scott Johnston, Press Secretary for Alberta Health.

“The vast majority of prescription drugs, including different forms of birth control, are covered under private plans. It means with the combination of private insurance along with public insurance, there is coverage and support for women who need these products.”

Irwin said that while the NDP introduced free access to the abortion pill Mifegymiso in 2017 through the Women Choice Program, the UCP have previously taken women’s healthcare backwards with their “conscience rights” Bill 207 in 2019, giving health care providers the ability to deny services or referrals to patients that they morally object to, with some stating this could negatively impact those seeking abortions.

READ: Kenney says his caucus to get free vote on controversial conscience rights bill

She also referred back to 2020 when the UCP held a performance review of Alberta Health Services, suggesting the potential removal of government funding for tubal litigation surgery, also known as female sterilization, as it was deemed to have “limited clinical value”.

READ: Report advises changes to Alberta Health Services, could save $2 billion per year

Finally, Irwin claimed the UCP government minimized reproductive rights with their refusal to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion. Then-Premier Jason Kenney said at the time that the issue was American and no change had been proposed in the province.

The UCP government gave $260,000 to the Period Promise campaign in 2021 to stock 100 schools with menstrual products. Irwin said she would be open to looking into a similar project.

READ: More schools to offer free feminine hygiene products thanks to provincial grant

Baer said there is gender inequality in the current cabinet as vasectomies are covered by Alberta Health while IUDs are not. She says she was approached by a young woman at Red Deer Polytechnic whose student plan did not cover the cost of an IUD, her preferred method of contraception for her future career and pregnancy plans, and she therefore could not afford the bill.

“Public healthcare includes reproductive health,” she said. “Removing cost barriers for contraception just makes sense — it’s good health policy, good economic policy and it’s the right thing to do.”

Johnston responded that tubal litigations are currently covered as well under Alberta Health, just like vasectomies.

“Many General Practitioners (GP) are trained to provide these services. If not, a GP can refer the patient to a specialist. For example, a general surgeon or urologist commonly performs vasectomies,” he said.

“In some instances, a referral is not required if the procedure is part of ongoing care. For example, a patient may receive a tubal ligation with a caesarean section.”

The NDP said that coverage for other types of medication is currently not under the radar but see universal coverage of prescription contraceptives as a “first step”.

When asked if all brands of contraceptive would be covered, Irwin said they were still looking into the details.