Australian women are set to save hundreds of dollars on healthcare costs thanks to new subsidies on hormone therapy, contraceptive pills, and improved access to menopause support and assessment.
On February 9, 2025, the Australian government announced a whopping $573 million funding package. This five-year investment plan was informed by two senate inquiries into women’s healthcare, plus findings from healthcare providers and advocacy groups.
“Our investment of more than half a billion dollars will deliver more choice, lower costs, and better healthcare for women at all stages of their lives,” says Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Women, the Public Service and Government Services. “These changes could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes.”
A lot has been announced, and many “wrongs” have been “righted”, said Minister for Health Mark Butler. “It’s about time Australian women had more choice, lower costs and better health care,” he continued.
Some of the new measures will take effect immediately. However, others are not slated to come into effect until after the next election cycle. And so, they are dependent on what party is in power.
Let’s break down what has been announced and what that means for you.
What has been announced?
The government has pledged over $573.3 million in funding to improve women’s healthcare. The new measures proposed include more contraceptive options and access, new Medicare rebates for menopause health assessments and contraceptive insertions, and an increase in endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics across the country.
The news was applauded by The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP):
“Better funding women’s health including contraceptives and health assessments is an investment that will pay off,” said RACGP President, Dr Michael Wright. “It will improve health and wellbeing, reduce pressure on our health system, and help reduce gender bias in our health system.”
What does the new women’s healthcare funding package include?
1. New contraceptive pills added to PBS
After more than three decades, new oral contraceptive pills have been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
From March 1, 2025, more pills — including commonly used Yaz® and Yasmin® — will be added to PBS. Before this change, women taking these pills would have paid around $380 a year. Now they are added to PBS, they will only have to pay $126.40 or $30.80 with a concession card.
“The new generation contraceptive pills being added to the PBS will also give women greater options and choices,” said Dr Michael.
2. First PBS listing for new menopausal hormone therapies
After more than 20 years, three new menopausal hormone therapies will be listed on PBS from March 1, 2025.
Those hormone treatments include estradiol (Estrogel®), progesterone (Prometrium®) and estradiol and progesterone (Estrogel® Pro).
According to the announcement, women who were taking these therapies could have been paying between $400 and $670 a year. However, with the new funding, they will have to pay a maximum of $31.60/month — $7.70/month with a concession card.
Some of these treatments have experienced supply shortages in recent years. With them being added to PBS, the government has promised to secure the supply for Australians.
“This decision acknowledges the impact of menopause on women’s lives,” said Dr Sonia Davison, Endocrinology Lead at the Jean Hailes Clinic. “For far too long, menopausal women have had their experiences dismissed and faced barriers to accessing affordable treatment options.”
3. More options and access to long-term contraceptives
Did you know that, despite their effectiveness, Australians have some of the lowest uptake in long-term contraceptives like IUDs? These contraceptives are not only used to prevent pregnancy but also to help manage difficult menstrual symptoms (like heavy bleeding and painful periods), endometriosis, perimenopause, and menopause.
Some of the lack of use could be attributed to limited access and the cost involved. As part of the new funding package, Medicare rebates will increase by 150 per cent and include the insertion and removal of IUDs and implants.
The news was welcomed by Professor Danielle Mazza AM, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care at Monash University.
“These new measures mean that GPs and nurse practitioners will receive more appropriate remuneration for providing these services and so more and more will choose to do so.”
She added that the funding will “go a long way to reversing the low uptake of long-acting reversible contraception like IUDs which are safe, and more effective than the contraceptive pill.”
RACGP President added that there is a prevalent “medical misogyny” that has been ingrained in Medicare that these new measures will help alleviate:
“We know cost-of-living is hitting women hard. Surveys show women are more likely to have delayed seeking essential healthcare due to costs than men. And, on top of this, medical misogyny is embedded in Medicare. The current subsidy for Intrauterine Device (IUD) insertion is just $77, while a vasectomy, which is equally complex and time-consuming, gets much more funding at $222.”
4. More Medicare support for women experiencing menopause
The announcement also included more Medicare support and rebates for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
From July 1, 2025, there is a proposed new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments. Under the new initiatives, women would have access to longer bulk-billed consultations, and increased Medicare rebates for appointments.
In addition, new first-ever clinical guidelines and specialist training in menopause and perimenopause will also be funded.
5. More endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics
The government has promised 11 new clinics staffed with specialists to support women’s healthcare. This will bring the total number of clinics of this kind to 33 across the country. All clinics will also have a remit to provide support specifically for menopause and perimenopause.
6. Access to contraceptives and UTI treatments from pharmacies
The women’s healthcare package will include funding for two national trials for accessing healthcare from pharmacies. It aims to enable 250,000 concession cardholders to consult a trained pharmacist to get treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and over-the-counter contraceptives. If medication is required, they would only pay for the medicine. These trials are slated for early 2026. No word on where these trials are planned to take place or the particulars of the consultations with the pharmacists.
