The province of British Columbia announced Tuesday it will distribute free contraceptives for the first time in Canada, as women’s rights face restrictions in neighboring the United States.

Anyone with health insurance will be able to apply for a free contraceptive prescription starting April 1, said provincial Finance Minister Katrine Conroy.

Also read: Everything you need to know when you start taking birth control pills

“In essence, having complete control over your reproductive rights is at the top of the list. Too often these rights are under attack,” Conroy told the provincial parliament.

The minister added that in British Columbia “the days of imposing this fee on trans and non-binary women and people are nearly numbered.”

Covered birth control methods include most hormonal pills, implants, injections and birth control devices, plus emergency contraceptive pills.

The provincial government estimates that those who use the pill could save C$10,000 (US$7,353) over their lifetime under the new rules.

Similar measures have been adopted in European countries such as France, UK and Germany.

How effective are birth control pills?

The better the contraceptive pill is used, the greater its effectiveness, which can be as high as 98%. The main reasons why this contraceptive method does not work properly are not taking it every day, and repeated vomiting or diarrhea for more than 48 hours.

See also: Other planning methods you can use for birth control shortages

If you can’t take your pills as directed, the best thing to do while being sexually active is to use another barrier method such as a condom. It is considered the best and also the most effective way to prevent disease.