BILL NO. 74
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Private Member's Bill
Free Intrauterine Devices Act
The Honourable Kelly Regan
Bedford Basin
First Reading: November 2, 2021
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Note
This Bill requires the Governor in Council to make regulations to have the M.S.I. plan cover the cost of intrauterine devices for individuals living on low income where those devices are provided by physicians or medical offices that provide abortions.
An Act to Amend Chapter 197
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Health Services and Insurance Act,
Respecting Free Intrauterine Devices
WHEREAS Canada is one of the only countries with universal health care that does not provide universal access to contraception;
AND WHEREAS individuals living on low income may not be able to afford accessing the full range of contraceptives available in Canada;
AND WHEREAS improving access to affordable contraception may decrease the number of individuals at risk of unintended pregnancy due to financial barriers;
AND WHEREAS while intrauterine devices are one of the most effective methods of contraception they may be unattainable by some due to their cost;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Free Intrauterine Devices Act.
2 Section 17 of Chapter 197 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Health Services and Insurance Act, as amended by Chapter 20 of the Acts of 1992 and Chapter 7 of the Acts of 2011, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (2) the following subsections:
- (3) Subject to subsection (3B), the Governor in Council shall make regulations on or before July 1, 2022, respecting the M.S.I. plan requiring the funding of 100% of the cost of an intrauterine device for residents of the Province who have
(a) an income of $26,500 or less, if single; or
(b) a household income of $32,900 or less, if married,
if the intrauterine device is provided by a physician or a medical office that provides surgical and chemical abortions that are considered insured professional services pursuant to the regulations.
(3A) For greater certainty, subsection (3) applies to residents of the Province who are living in a precarious situation and cannot provide proof of their income.
(3B) The money required for the purpose of subsection (3) must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 2, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
