Period panty reimbursement: where do things stand?
Last updated on March 7, 2025
[ In recent weeks and months, the news about reimbursement for period underwear is constantly evolving. We make sure to share the most up-to-date information with you. If, despite this, we missed anything, we apologize! ]
You might have heard about this bill: reimbursement for period underwear for 12- to 25-year-olds! More specifically, since March 2023, there’s been talk of reimbursing reusable menstrual products for all young women and girls under 25 in France. Just to be clear, this is about reimbursing washable menstrual products like cups and period underwear, not pads or tampons.
This measure would be a concrete response to period poverty. This regulation would especially benefit teens experiencing their first periods, helping them get equipped, as well as students who often have a very limited budget!
Reimbursed and free period products—where do things stand? Reusable pads, period underwear, or menstrual cups—what’s the status of coverage and reimbursement?
Which washable and reusable period products are covered by social security? Which hygienic solutions are reimbursed by health insurance and mutual funds in France? Do you have to shop at a pharmacy to take advantage of this policy?
Which reusable menstrual product brands are pharmacy-eligible and recognized by Social Security? What system is in place at the pharmacy?
Are the costs of these feminine hygiene products covered elsewhere in the world? Are there any subsidies or assistance programs? Is this a myth, misinformation, or the real deal?
In this article, you’ll find:
II - Period panty reimbursement: for ages 12-25
III - Criteria and Brands IV- Period underwear reimbursement: what about other countries?
V - What about supplemental and private health insurance?
VI - Refunds for period underwear and Louloucup purchases 🩷 Louloucup’s commitments and values
🩷 Handle your period with peace of mind by having enough menstrual panties
🩷 One free menstrual panty with every set of 5 Louloucup products purchased
🩷 The little Louloucup extras that make all the difference for your wallet
To learn more... Looking for a calmer period?
I - Menstrual insecurity: let’s talk about it!
Having your period can get expensive! The price of menstrual and hygiene products is a real budget concern for many teenage girls and young women.
Some studies, such as those published in Le Monde, go beyond just the cost of period products and also calculate all the related expenses that come with menstruation:
- potential pain relief;
- hot water bottles;
- heating pads and any other device for painful periods;
- Some studies also count underwear, clothes, pajamas, or even sheets that get stained by periods and need to be washed, changed, or thrown away.
Top 3 most affordable Louloucup period panties
II - Period underwear reimbursement: for ages 12–25
What does French law say about the reimbursement of period underwear? Just like the pill, washable menstrual protection (including menstrual cups and period underwear) is only reimbursed by Social Security for women under 26.
To qualify for free reusable period products, you must:
- be under 26 years old;
- having a health insurance plan or being eligible for Complémentaire santé solidaire (C2S);
- another condition is that you must purchase period protection exclusively at a pharmacy. However, no prescription is required.
For those under 26, French Health Insurance covers 60% of menstrual protection (menstrual cup, period panties, or washable pads). The remaining 40% may be covered by your supplemental health insurance depending on your policy and coverage.
For women who qualify for C2S, coverage is 100%.
However, this law was supposed to go into effect on September 1, 2024, but no final list of products or exact details has been published or made known as of yet (March 2025).
Warning: nothing has been finalized yet. Some brands may give misleading information and make you believe your period underwear is reimbursed. Be careful!
III - Criteria and Brands
Not all brands will be eligible for reimbursement. The program has strict criteria for menstrual product brands, to ensure users get top-quality products.
Durable and high-performing, these panties are tested and inspected from every angle. They need to prove their strength, absorbency, and reliability.
Panties should also have a composition free of toxic substances (nanoparticles, etc.) and be Oeko-tex certified. That’s the case for Louloucup! All our period underwear is lined with organic cotton and is Oeko-tex certified.
Reimbursement for period underwear at your pharmacy isn’t a reality just yet. Still, we’re keeping our fingers crossed and believe it’s coming: in the coming weeks or months, many teens and young women will finally be able to get the best products to experience worry-free periods.
IV- Period panty reimbursement: what about other countries?
Fighting menstrual discomfort? Providing a clear solution for all girls and women who have periods? Apart from France, many countries around the world have taken up this issue that affects so many women. Most often, measures are put in place in schools, high schools, and universities to reduce absenteeism among girls.
Scotland passed a law in August 2022 making tampons and pads free for all women. The government had already allowed Scottish high school and college students to get free pads and tampons at school since 2018.
Some US states also provide free hygiene products. For example, in Ohio, menstrual products are available in public restrooms.
V - And what about supplemental and private health insurance?
While France is planning to reimburse one period underwear per year through social security and supplemental insurance, it’s worth knowing that several health insurance providers already offer reimbursement for one or more period products per year.
Reimbursement depends on your insurance plan. It could cover period underwear, a menstrual cup, or even reusable absorbent pads. The terms vary from one policy to another. Don’t hesitate to ask your advisor or carefully reread the contract you signed.
Once you’ve made your purchase, simply send your invoice to your insurance or health plan to get reimbursed. It’s that easy!
Good to know: we often don’t know all the details of the contracts we sign! In addition to partially or fully covering our healthcare costs, insurance plans can also cover additional expenses like contraception (which isn’t always fully covered) or even condoms!
VI - Refunds for period underwear and Louloucup purchases
Louloucup didn’t wait for government subsidies to offer period products at the best prices and fight period poverty. What are our commitments, prices, and offers?
🩷 Louloucup’s commitments and values
Louloucup stands out as one of the best-value brands for washable, eco-friendly menstrual products on the market. We’ve always worked to offer great prices to make washable period protection as accessible as possible to everyone: middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, young women in the workforce, and new moms in the postpartum phase.
What does this actually mean? On our online store, you’ll find a wide collection of menstrual underwear to use during your period instead of tampons and disposable pads. Louloucup offers a broad range of products, like menstrual underwear for teens, postpartum underwear for moms, and plus size menstrual underwear. These period panties are washable and reusable. They create no waste, so they’re eco-friendly, durable, and renewable. Lined with organic cotton, they’re just as comfortable as they are absorbent! You’ll love wearing them!
You can also find our Loulou cup in two sizes: small and medium!
🩷 Handle your period with peace of mind by having enough menstrual panties
A period underwear reimbursed by Social Security is fantastic news! At Louloucup, we couldn't agree more. But you know that just one period panty isn’t nearly enough to get through your period with peace of mind!
As we've mentioned several times on the blog, you'll need a certain number of menstrual underwear to cover all your period days. The number of period panties you need depends on your usage, of course, but also on the nature of your menstrual flow.
Do you wear period underwear day and night, or just at night (maybe you prefer to use a menstrual cup during the day)? Do you have a very heavy or hemorrhagic flow, or is your period light to normal?
In any case, you'll need at least one pair of underwear for the day and one for the night. However, you won't be able to reuse them right away, since you'll need to wash them and wait for them to dry. And tumble drying is a no-go! Air drying away from any heat source is recommended.
To ensure dry, leak-free, odorless periods without saturation or discomfort, at Louloucup we believe that a set of five period panties is a solid foundation—a great starting point for a calm menstrual routine and peace of mind when it comes to intimate hygiene.
🩷 Get a free period panty when you buy a set of 5 Louloucup products
Shopping at Louloucup is super easy and hassle-free. Just fill your cart with your favorite products, choose the size you want, and the model you like. Then enjoy the instant discount on every item. The discount is automatically applied in your cart. Because yes, at Louloucup, the more menstrual products you add (whether it’s panties, menstrual cups, or menstrual swimwear), the more you save!
Look at it this way: a menstrual product has a unit price of €28.90 (except some heavy flow models) at Louloucup. If you add two items to your cart, they automatically drop to €26.90 each. Add another product of your choice, and they cost €25.90 each. With 4 items in your cart, each product in your order is €24.90. Finally, once you reach 5 products of your choice, each item is just €22.90.
A set with 5 period panties or 1 cup + 4 period panties is €114.50 instead of €144.50. You save €6.07 per item. Most importantly, you save €30 overall—the price of a pair of period panties!
When you buy 5 Louloucup items of your choice, you get one item fully refunded, free of charge! Quite a deal, right?
🩷 The little Louloucup extras that make all the difference for your wallet
This amazing bundle of menstrual underwear at a discounted price isn’t the only good news! At Louloucup, shipping is free! No outrageous shipping fees to ruin your final bill.
Plus, you can still save a few extra bucks with a promo code, sales, or other ongoing offers! So stay tuned—at Louloucup, we always have great deals for you to take advantage of!
