France to Reimburse Menstrual Cups and Underwear for Young and Low-Income Women
The French government has announced that its social security system will reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual cups and underwear for specific groups of women. This initiative, aimed at tackling period poverty, is scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2024, coinciding with the start of the new academic year. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 6.7 million individuals, representing nearly ten percent of France's population. Eligible recipients include women under the age of 26 who hold a state health insurance card, as well as women of all ages who receive special healthcare support due to limited income. These individuals will be able to claim refunds after purchasing these sustainable sanitary products at pharmacies. Although Parliament approved the measure as part of the 2024 social security budget, the lack of an immediate implementation decree has sparked frustration among feminist groups and manufacturers of these items. Recent surveys indicate that one in ten women in France has resorted to using makeshift alternatives like ripped clothes due to financial constraints. This move follows previous efforts, such as the 2016 reduction of sales tax on period products, aligning France with global trends like Scotland's 2020 law providing free universal access to period products.
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France to Reimburse Menstrual Cups and Underwear for Young and Low-Income Women
The French government has announced that its social security system will reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual cups and underwear for specific groups of women. This initiative, aimed at tackling period poverty, is scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2024, coinciding with the start of the new academic year. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 6.7 million individuals, representing nearly ten percent of France's population. Eligible recipients include women under the age of 26 who hold a state health insurance card, as well as women of all ages who receive special healthcare support due to limited income. These individuals will be able to claim refunds after purchasing these sustainable sanitary products at pharmacies. Although Parliament approved the measure as part of the 2024 social security budget, the lack of an immediate implementation decree has sparked frustration among feminist groups and manufacturers of these items. Recent surveys indicate that one in ten women in France has resorted to using makeshift alternatives like ripped clothes due to financial constraints. This move follows previous efforts, such as the 2016 reduction of sales tax on period products, aligning France with global trends like Scotland's 2020 law providing free universal access to period products.
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