Good morning, Mr. Chair and honourable members of Parliament. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before this committee today.
My name is Insiya Mankani. I am the public affairs officer at Action Canada. I am also a 29-year-old based in Ontario who is directly affected by the issue I would like to speak about today.
I have come forward today to share with you why I feel there is an urgent need for Canada to invest in the 2024 federal budget in a universal free contraception plan. Despite a long-standing history of universal health care in Canada, nearly half of all pregnancies remain unintended, and they can have serious and life-altering affects, including a higher incidence of negative health outcomes for both the mothers and the children.
In a time when people are dealing with everyday affordability crises, the unexpected addition of a family member can have huge impacts. Right now, the cost of preventing this from happening through the use of effective contraception is also out of reach for many people. Without private health insurance, the cost of an intrauterine device can be up to $400. Overall, people in Canada continue to use the least effective methods of contraception simply because they cost the least. Without a national drug care plan in place, many people fall through the cracks when it comes to contraception coverage. This is why the government must commit now to investing in the tools that people need to plan and manage their reproductive choices.
A universal free contraception plan would have clear public health impacts and, over time, would be a significant cost-saving measure for the government. The annual cost of investing in universal contraception coverage is estimated to be between $157 million and $500 million per year, but evidence from previous programs implemented in Europe and across the United States has demonstrated an overall positive return on investment, with the investment in a universal program becoming cost-neutral within two years of the onset of the program.
Equitable access to contraception is a human right, and it is also a smart policy choice that helps people, the economy and the health care system. I hope you strongly consider this opportunity for an investment in universal cost coverage for contraception in the 2024 federal budget.