The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Australian women will soon have better access to affordable contraceptive options thanks to the Australian Government’s landmark women’s health package.

From 1 November 2025, a new contraceptive option will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) giving women access to more choice and lower cost.

NuvaRing ® is a flexible vaginal ring that comes in a pack of three. It releases a combination of estrogen and progestogen to prevent ovulation. It is used on a monthly cycle and offers an alternative to daily oral contraceptives.

Before the listing of NuvaRing® on the PBS, women might have paid more than $270 a year, now they will pay $31.60 per script or $7.70 if they are concessional, with each script providing three months of the contraception.

From 1 January 2026, under the government’s policy they will pay a maximum of just $25 per script.

In 2024, around 44,500 patients accessed a comparable treatment through the PBS.

On the same date, changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule will make long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs and birth control implants more affordable.  

The changes linked to long-acting reversible contraceptives are expected to benefit around 300,000 women each year, saving them up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs.

The Australian Government is also funding free training for health practitioners in the insertion and removal of IUDs to boost the number of qualified practitioners and improve access to services.

In addition, a 40 per cent bulk-billing incentive will be introduced, incentivising health professionals to provide long-acting contraception services and support women to have greater contraceptive choice.

These are all part of the Government’s landmark Women’s Health Package, investing almost $800 million in funding to deliver improved health care for women and girls.