WILLEMSTAD – PAR Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage is calling on the Curaçao government to expand contraceptive coverage under the Basic Health Insurance system (BVZ) to include insured young adults under the age of 25. The proposal seeks to remove financial barriers to family planning and help prevent unintended pregnancies among young people.
In a formal letter dated October 23, 2026, addressed to Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt, Elhage requested an amendment to the 2014 National Decree governing benefits under the BVZ system.
The parliamentarian submitted the request through Parliament President Fergino Brownbill, invoking Article 96 of the Rules of Procedure of the Curaçao Parliament.
According to Elhage, the current regulations generally exclude contraceptives from BVZ coverage, with exceptions for insured individuals under 18 and certain medical indications.
He argues that this age restriction should be reconsidered because reaching adulthood at 18 does not necessarily mean a young person has achieved financial independence or is prepared to assume the responsibilities of parenthood.
The parliamentarian wants the government to evaluate extending the existing age-based exception to individuals who have not yet reached their 25th birthday.
Elhage emphasizes that the years between 18 and 24 are particularly important for education, professional development, financial independence, and long-term planning.
An unintended pregnancy during this period can affect educational opportunities, employment prospects, and personal circumstances.
However, Elhage makes clear that his proposal is not intended to portray young motherhood or fatherhood as a problem.
Instead, he argues that young people should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about when to start a family without unnecessary financial obstacles.
The parliamentarian also refers to a local reproductive health study that identified non-use or inconsistent use of contraception among participants.
According to his letter, the study recommended improved sexual education and greater financial access to contraceptive methods.
Elhage believes these findings support examining whether the BVZ system should provide broader contraceptive coverage.
He also acknowledges the need for updated research, particularly concerning young adults between 18 and 24.
The proposed expansion would not be limited to contraceptive pills.
Elhage wants the government to assess coverage for different contraceptive methods, including injections, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), subject to appropriate medical and administrative requirements.
He also stresses that expanded coverage should be accompanied by sexual education, medical guidance, information about fertility, and awareness of sexually transmitted infections.
The parliamentarian links his proposal to the government's stated emphasis on prevention in healthcare reform.
He notes that Minister Boekhoudt identified prevention as an important pillar of healthcare reform in March 2026.
Against that background, Elhage questions why the general age-based contraceptive coverage exception ends when an insured person turns 18, even though the need for reproductive healthcare and family planning continues.
The proposed amendment would change the wording of Article 8.1, paragraph 3(c), of the 2014 decree, replacing the reference to insured individuals younger than 18 with individuals younger than 25.
Existing exceptions for medical indications would remain in place.
Elhage is also asking the government to investigate how contraceptive coverage was arranged under the former Bureau Ziektekosten Voorziening (BZV) system before the introduction of BVZ in 2013.
He says information available to him suggests that contraceptives were covered under the previous system and wants to establish whether the transition to BVZ resulted in reduced coverage.
The parliamentarian has requested an urgent evaluation of the proposal, including its legal, medical, social, and financial implications.
He wants the government to determine whether expanding contraceptive coverage could improve access to preventive healthcare while supporting young people's educational and economic opportunities.
The proposal has not yet been adopted, and the existing BVZ rules remain in place pending any government decision or regulatory amendment.