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British Columbia recently became the first province in Canada to make birth control free for its residents. However, not all Canadian provinces offer access to free birth control.
So do you know what your provincial health insurance coverage is for birth control? Do you know how and where you can buy it? Are you eligible to buy it? We've got your covered.
In this definitive guide, you will find everything you need to know about birth control in Canada, the coverage provided by public healthcare programs, where to buy birth control pills, and more.
Certain forms of birth control are available for free or at low cost in Canada through various programs and initiatives. However, it's essential to note that the availability and coverage of free birth control may vary depending on the province or territory, as well as the specific type of contraceptive method.
In some provinces, like Ontario, there are public drug benefit programs that provide subsidised or fully covered birth control for eligible individuals. Additionally, some provinces have expanded access to free prescription contraceptives through pharmacies, allowing individuals with a valid health card to access certain birth control methods at no cost.
The cost of birth control without insurance in Canada can vary depending on the specific type of contraceptive method. Here are some approximate price ranges for common birth control options:
Birth Control in CanadaPlease note that these are approximate price ranges and may vary based on factors such as the specific brand, pharmacy, and location. It's always best to check with your local pharmacy or healthcare provider for the most up-to-date and accurate pricing information.
Now that you know private health insurance is important, you don't have to look further than our comparator below that gives you information on prices, coverage, and also gets you quotes from the best health insurances in Canada.
Compare The Best Health Insurance Plans in Seconds
There are many birth control options in Ontario, but for most people, they are not free. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not pay for prescriptions or medication outside of clinical or hospital settings. However, there is free birth control available in Ontario through OHIP+ and the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB). These programs cover pills, IUDs and injectables as forms of contraception.
To qualify for OHIP+, you need to be under 25 years old, have OHIP coverage and not be covered by private health insurance.
You don’t need to apply, enroll or register to benefit from OHIP+. You will be automatically covered if you meet the eligibility conditions.
To be covered under the ODB, you’ll need OHIP coverage and fit one of the following circumstances:
If you are not covered by OHIP+ or ODB, you will probably not have access to free birth control in Ontario. Also OHIP+ coverage will stop on your 25th birthday, or if you become covered by a private plan. When the time comes, you will be left potentially having to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket, unless your health insurance plan provides coverage.
If you live in Ontario and decide to start taking birth control, you might ask yourself, does OHIP cover birth control? and the answer might disappoint you. No, there is no such thing as OHIP birth control coverage. However, in Ontario, your birth control needs might be covered under OHIP+ or the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB).
For many Ontarians, birth control is free when they start taking it because birth control in Ontario is covered by OHIP+ for those aged under 25. However, after your 25th birthday, contraception becomes an out-of-pocket expense if you don’t benefit from a drug plan. The idea is that, at that age, most people have secured private insurance and drug coverage through their employment. In today’s economy, though, that is not the case for many.
The ODB’s list of requirements is slightly more extensive. It’s for those over the age of 65, living in long-term care or a home for special care, receiving professional care services or enrolled in one of the following:
For everyone else, the Ontario government does not pay for birth control.
OHIP+ and ODB only cover pills, IUDs and injectables as forms of birth control. It does not cover other products, such as implants, contraceptive rings and patches.
IUDs, or hormonal intra-uterine contraception devices, are part of the birth control options in Ontario that are covered by OHIP+ and the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB).
The (IUD) is an option many Ontarians desire. It is 99.8% effective at preventing pregnancy and remains effective for 5 years. However, it comes with a hefty price tag. At $410, that’s a lot of money to pay upfront for contraception.
Luckily, IUD brands Kyleena and Mirena are covered in Ontario. You will need a prescription from your clinician, and then all you need is to secure your IUD at a pharmacy or sexual health clinic and schedule an appointment to get it inserted.
Birth control pills in Ontario can be covered by a government plan, depending on your circumstances. Two types of birth control pills are called the pill. The first is a combination of estrogen and progestin, and the second is progestin-only. Regardless of which type you take, you must take one pill every day at the same time, and this method is 91% effective against pregnancy.
Depending on which particular brand you take, the pill will cost around $21 to $45 per pill or $252 to $540 per year. For people with a valid Ontario Health Card who are also under the age of 25, the cost of birth control pills in Ontario is covered by the provincial government.
In addition, if you are enrolled in the Trillium Drug Program or benefit from Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), the pill will also be covered, even after the age of 25.
Emergency oral contraception, known as the morning-after pill can be used after unprotected intercourse as a contraceptive method for emergencies. The most popular brands in Canada are Plan B® and Ella®, which reduce pregnancy risk by about 75% if taken properly. Plan B® is covered by OHIP+, and you can get it over-the-counter, or without a prescription.
The birth control cost in Ontario will vary significantly from method to method.
Here is a table with the most common birth control options and their cost in Ontario: