UBC researchers have been paving the way for free contraception policies in British Columbia and across the country.
Dr. Elizabeth Nethery is a postdoctoral research fellow in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences and lead author of a May 2026 study on B.C.'s universal no-cost contraceptives policy. The study concluded it reduced patient out-of-pocket spending by more than 80 per cent, with some of the largest savings seen among young adults.
Her study builds on nearly a decade of research that helped inform B.C.’s decision to introduce universal no-cost prescription contraception. Nethery said her co-authors, including UBC's Dr. Wendy Norman and Dr. Laura Schummers, have generated evidence showing that expanded contraception coverage could improve access while producing long-term savings for the healthcare system.
Nethery’s research team found that people aged 20–29 benefitted the most from the policy, largely because many fall into a coverage gap after aging out of a parent’s insurance plan but before gaining access to workplace benefits.
“What we saw was an even higher proportion of people paying out-of-pocket,” said Nethery. According to her research, around 45 per cent of the 20-29 age group paid out-of-pocket before the policy.
Researchers also observed a nearly 50 per cent increase in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUDs and implants following the implementation of the policy. According to Nethery, the high upfront costs associated with these methods previously placed them out of reach for many people, despite being among the most effective forms of contraception available.
The study’s findings suggest that cost had influenced contraceptive choices, with some patients opting for less expensive methods despite preferring a longer-term option. By removing financial barriers, the policy allows individuals greater flexibility to choose the contraceptive method that best suits their needs. Following its implementation, annual out-of-pocket spending for young adults fell from roughly $74 per user to $15.
Nethery called B.C.’s policy “groundbreaking.” It came into effect in 2023, before the federal government introduced universal pharmacare legislation, and made B.C. the first province to introduce a no-cost contraceptive policy. Since then, Manitoba has introduced a similar program and the federal government has committed to expanding public coverage for contraception through pharmacare legislation.
“The research really paved the way and provided an important evidence base for government to say, ‘Yeah, we think this is a smart policy to enact,’” said Nethery.
Despite the decline in patient costs, overall spending on contraception remained relatively stable after the policy was introduced. This suggests that expanding coverage did not result in a major increase in healthcare spending, but instead shifted the cost away from patients and toward the public system.
While the policy has reduced financial barriers, advocates say awareness remains a challenge.
Sophia Khan, the AMS Women’s Centre’s DIVA Cup office hours coordinator, said that awareness of B.C.’s universal no-cost prescription contraception program remains limited among many UBC students.
“Most of the people I’ve spoken to have no idea about the policy,” she said. ”I’ve heard so many stories of people going to pharmacies and not even the pharmacist will tell them that they can get it for free.”
Khan said there is more awareness about no-cost access to longer-term methods like IUDs than about emergency contraception and pregnancy tests.
Beyond reducing costs, Khan said free contraception can give students greater autonomy over their reproductive health decisions.
“[Students] can be more in charge of their own sexuality in that sense,” she said. “I think it also makes people feel a lot safer.”
However, both Nethery and Khan noted that cost is only one barrier to access.
Khan listed stigma, privacy concerns and uncertainty about how to obtain contraception as ongoing challenges for students.
She said concerns about judgement from peers or healthcare providers can discourage people from seeking contraception, even when it’s available at no cost.
According to Khan, increasing awareness and normalizing conversations about sexual and reproductive health remain important parts of improving access.
Looking ahead, Nethery said she is now studying whether the policy leads to longer-term changes in unintended pregnancy rates, abortion use and reproductive health outcomes. B.C.’s model, she says, it one other provinces should consider adopting. “Everybody deserves the same access.”
