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French Health Minister Olivier Véran announced Thursday that starting next year France will offer free contraception for women up to the age of 25.
Why it matters: The move expands existing policy, which covers contraception up to the age of 18, and comes as President Emmanuel Macron's government gears up for the 2022 elections.
The big picture: Speaking to France 2, Véran said the policy will cover hormonal contraception, medical check-ups that go with it, prescription consultations, and all other care related to the contraception until the age of 25.
- He added that there had been a decline in contraception use among young women and that the reasons were primarily financial.
- "It is unbearable that women cannot protect themselves, cannot have access to contraception if they want to make that choice because it is too expensive," he said.
- The policy will cost France 21 million euros ($24.8 million) per year, he added.