Government announces expanded contraceptive coverage for public service

OTTAWA, March 29, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to empowering women and respecting their rights, including reproductive health rights.

In the federal public service, that means we need to put the health of women first. Women should have their choice of contraceptives.

Effective April 1, 2018, the government is expanding the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) to provide coverage of non-oral contraceptive options.

The PSHCP is an optional health care plan for federal public service employees, retirees and their dependants designed to supplement provincial health insurance plans. Previously, the PSHCP covered only oral contraceptives.

The changes to the PSHCP were negotiated in good faith through the Public Service Health Care Plan Partners Committee, which includes bargaining agents, employer and pensioner representatives. As the employer's representative, Treasury Board Secretariat officials worked collaboratively with bargaining agent representatives to prepare a recommendation to expand contraceptive coverage under the PSHCP. The recommendation was accepted, and has now been approved by the government.

Quote

"Respecting women's rights, including reproductive health rights, is critically important to our government's fundamental commitment to empowering women. Expanding the range of contraceptive options for members of the Public Service Health Care Plan and their families is just the right thing to do. I am pleased that we were able to negotiate these benefits, which are comparable to similar employer-sponsored benefit plans. We will continue to work with the Partners Committee to ensure that the Public Service Health Care Plan provides members and their dependants with sustainable and cost-effective benefits."

-       The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

Quick Facts

• The PSHCP is the largest employer-sponsored benefit plan in Canada, providing benefits to over 660,000 plan members (or approximately 1.5M Canadians including dependants).
• The PSHCP reimburses participants for incurred costs relating to eligible services and products after they have taken advantage of benefits provided by their provincial or territorial health insurance plan.

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SOURCE Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat