Hi. I've used Planned Parenthood. In fact, for at least 4 years (not sure I fully remember how long) Planned Parenthood was my sole health care source.
I used the student health center when in college, but then I moved to NYC, and like any of us who don't go right from college (or high school) to full-time employment with a company big or progressive enough to provide employees with health care, I was out of luck.
I was doing part-time temp work while pursuing my dream, and even when I transitioned to full-time work, there was no health care. And no I didn't buy heath insurance. I'm not sure at the ripe old age of 21 I had a good concept of why I would need it or how to get it.
What I did know, what had been sort of burned into my consciousness, was that I need to get an annual exam. (In fact, if you use the birth control pill they don't give you refills past a year in order to require you to get that annual exam.)
So, each year, when I came home for Christmas, I went to the Planned Parenthood in Sunnyvale, CA. I got my exam; I got my pill prescription renewed. And given I lived in NYC during the early days of the AIDS crisis, and during the time where the message that every person should get tested was so pervasive, Planned Parenthood is also where I got my AIDS test.
I don't remember what I paid. I paid something, but it was a sliding scale based on my nearly non-existent income.
I should add that even when I moved back to California and worked full-time, for about 7 years I worked for very small companies who did not provide health care. I didn't have my first company-provided health care plan until 1997.
At some point I started making enough money that I did go out and get myself an individual health plan.
But Planned Parenthood was a place that women like me could go, be treated with respect, and have our basic health care needs addressed.
I have never been pregnant. Which, obviously, means I have never had an abortion. And most of my fellow pursuing-a-dream friends who used Planned Parenthood were the same.
Not that it should matter, given abortion is legal in this country.
You may have seen lots of folks tweeting this week and weekend about using Planned Parenthood.
This is just my story. One story. One I think many many American women could tell.
What is your Planned Parenthood story?
enjoyed the post... i honestly didn't know that planned parenthood provided so many other fuctions
Posted by: Allison | April 18, 2011 at 12:52 PM
I agree with Allison, I didn't know that Planned Parenthood provided so many functions.
Posted by: How To Deal With Jealousy | April 19, 2011 at 01:38 PM
An interesting post. I think Planned Parenthood helps most women who do not make enough money to afford sophisticated health care. It is good to know that Planned Parenthood provides diverse services such as screening for breast, cervical and testicular cancers, testing and treatment for STDs and sexuality education.
Posted by: health funds | April 19, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the post. I understand the difficultly in accessing to health care services when you do not make enough money or you do not work for an employer who does not provide health care, having seen so many people going through this.
Posted by: life insurance online | April 20, 2011 at 06:27 PM
As if insurance companies don't make enough money, Anthem Blue Cross was actually going to charge people to make payments on credit cards! Does it get any more ridiculous than that?
Posted by: Mai | June 27, 2011 at 04:49 AM
Yes, parenthood should be planned. You should be mentally prepared to become a parent for better looking after of your child. There are also several other reasons why parenthood should be planned e.g. economic reason.
I planned for three years before deciding on having a baby.
Posted by: Health Blog | July 02, 2011 at 05:54 PM
This is so much like my story. The only thing I'll add is that I actually got married and didn't have health insurance yet! I was looking for a job and my husband was working toward passing the Bar! Planned Parenthood saved us.. for almost a year. My husband even went with me the first time around, like a doctor's office visit. I had my exam, had some tests, and got my birth control pills. What a blessing PP was for us!! So many people don't have a clue what Planned Parenthood is really good for... nor how it could benefit their lives. Let's not forget the purpose of this post.
Posted by: SSmith | July 13, 2011 at 05:40 PM
I am really thankful for this post. I am a graduate student and right now I am enjoin my student health insurance but I am planning to graduate soon and don't have any job offer. I was really worry about losing my insurance but, now that I now all that PP offers I am more relaxed.
Posted by: Back Pain | July 27, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Planned Parenthood is an excellent resource that I only wish would get used more often. Yes they perform abortions, but they also perform many other healthcare services that is necessary for women. I hate that there's controversy around the company, especially when it's nothing but beneficial.
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