[wonder woman]

Just heard this being discussed on radio the other day...

Should it be individuals themselves directly, private health insurers, or Medicare/government?

If individuals, then within a relationship, should each gender pay for their own or should the total cost be evenly split?

Of course, the issue here is that, like the case with tampons, women currently spend more on female contraception.


edit: Whilst pregnancy is not a medical condition/disease/illness, consider what/whose costs are being avoided by using contraception

This post has been edited by wonder woman: 09/11/2012, 02:56 PM

[emlis22]

Individuals for sure. And as for a relationship - I'm on the pill and it's so darn cheap (yes, I am on generic, I know that others spend 5 times what I do) that I couldn't imagine hitting my SO up for the cash.

I do light-heartedly suggest he should pay for my monthly trips to the waxist though

Edited for clarification

This post has been edited by emlis22: 09/11/2012, 11:40 AM

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

individuals. I can't think of any reason that the government or health insurers should pay for it - it's a personal choice to have sex, and if you want to avoid the common side effect of pregnancy you need to take measures to do that.

as far as within a relationship, I think it's a very personal choice. for us, any contraception comes out of the household budget and has done since we started living together almost 8 years ago

[RobotFerretOfDoo...]

I think individuals should pay for their own, but I think there is an argument for distribution of condoms by Government and/or community health agencies to targetted communities.

I remember our student union at Uni used to have free condoms at the Union desk, which I always thought was a sensible way to try and prevent unwanted pregnancy and STDs.

[RunawayPrincess]

Within my relationship I pay for the pill and DF pays for condoms. I have never really thought about it, just makes sense, I'm on the pill so I am responsible for getting it, DF also insists on wearing condoms, so he is responsible for those.

[AgEm_my_world]

your health, your choice, you should be the one to pay? Dont want an STI go get contraception. Dont want a baby go get contraception.....

[-*meh*-]

i guess it depends on the type of contraception used...

for something like the pill/iud etc which for a lot of people are a low cost/one off cost then the individual...

if its something that is a regular over the counter/shop type thing such as condoms then it would probably become included in a household budget.

Seeing most contraceptions are on the PBS i think the government are doing their fair share....

[katpaws]

I think that preventative measures should always be the cheapest option.

I think that it is in the government's best interest to ensure all Australians have easy and cheap access to contraception.

I guess on an individual basis, all should pay for their own contraceptive devices. I have always paid for mine (and to think of it, DH's too!) but then i have never wanted an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy.

I can't think of any reason that the government or health insurers should pay for it - it's a personal choice to have sex, and if you want to avoid the common side effect of pregnancy you need to take measures to do that.

Well if people don't have access to cheap contraceptives etc and catch STIs or have unwanted pregnancies, the cost generally comes back to the public purse.

Essentially i believe that all women should have access to education and have reproductive autonomy over their own body, and that they should never be denied contraceptives etc or access to services such as safe abortion and maternal care services.



This post has been edited by katpaws: 09/11/2012, 11:52 AM

[countrymel]

Individuals. Medicare subsidies for low income people make it entirely affordable to the majority.

I don't know if it is still the case but when I lived in the UK many years ago contraception was available free of charge!

People that I knew still paid for their own though so they could exercise personal choice (they also had jobs) - but it was freely available (condoms, pill, diaphragms) if you wished to access.

I did think that was pretty fantastic.


I've never been in a situation where contraception costs have been so expensive that I have even noticed who was paying?

My suggestion to those who are finding it thus - nip down to family planning or the HIV awareness office - they'll give you an armful of free condoms.

[Becky Thatcher]

I think individuals should pay for their own, but I think there is an argument for distribution of condoms by Government and/or community health agencies to targetted communities.

I remember our student union at Uni used to have free condoms at the Union desk, which I always thought was a sensible way to try and prevent unwanted pregnancy and STDs.

I think this is right. Son said there is a huge fruit bowl full of condoms in the waiting room at the uni doctors too.