British Columbians now have universal coverage of prescription contraceptives.

“Universal coverage of prescription contraceptives means that people will face fewer obstacles in taking charge of their reproductive health,” said the Ministry of Health in a reminder about the plan Friday.

The new rules came into effect on Saturday.

People can get a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife at a walk-in clinic, hospital or through a street nurse program.

Later this spring, pharmacists will be able to prescribe contraceptives as part of a plan to expand pharmacists' scope of practice.

BC PharmaCare will cover the full cost of more than 60 commonly used birth-control methods. People generally pay up to $25 a month for hormonal pills, or up to $300 a year.

Hormone injections can cost as much as $180 per year and longer-lasting IUDs anywhere from $75 to $500. For someone who pays $25 a month, the new free plan could save them as much as $10,000 over their lifetime.

For more information, visit Government of British Columbia.