<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Up to 300,000 women in Australia are set to benefit from several contraceptives being made part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from November 1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking on </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>, Health Minister Mark Butler announced three different contraceptive pills would be added to the scheme, alongside a device called the NuvaRing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NuvaRing releases a combination of estrogen and progestrogen, preventing ovulation and allowing women to use it on a monthly cycle rather than daily like some oral contraceptives.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mornington-victoria-speeding-car/e7b386aa-9618-4a82-9ae2-e59d1d982c13" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Heart-stopping moment a speeding car just misses pedestrians</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The device used to cost $270 a year, but Butler claims the cost will now plummet to $31.60 per script, with concession holders being able to access the contraceptive device for as little as $7.70 per script.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For most Aussie women, this will make it two-thirds cheaper, with some being able to save up to 88 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three other pills will also be added to the scheme, as part of a wide-ranging plan to make birth control more affordable.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/health/australia-womens-health-contraceptives-mark-butler/780a9e4f-988c-4b5b-86a1-bf107d28d54b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Literally 300,000 women every year will save hundreds and hundreds of dollars," Butler told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With three new pills that hundreds of thousands of women were using because they're really highly effective and don't have side effects that some of the older medicines have."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-tests-new-nuclear-cruise-missile-putin-says/986d0c5c-fe8a-4037-af11-bad957700b56" rel="" target="_blank" title="Russia tests new nuclear-capable missile, claims Putin"><strong><span>Russia tests new nuclear-capable missile, claims Putin</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler also announced on January 1 next year, contraceptives would cost no more than $25 per script.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia's women will have access to all of their contraceptive choices for no more than $100 a year," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And that's as it should be, this is essential care for hundreds of thousands of Australians."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To support these measures, a new 40 per cent bulk billing incentive has been announced, which the government believes will incentivise doctors to provide long-acting contraception services to women.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is about making sure women have genuine choice when it comes to their reproductive health, choice that isn't limited by cost or access," Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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