Cost of pap/pelvic at PP with no sliding scale?

[firebomber.livejournal.com]

Hi all.

My last pap/pelvic was in 2007 so I decided to schedule an appointment for that, as well as to check out if I have some sort of infection (I'm thinking it might be BV).

The Planned Parenthood here is apparently no longer on a sliding scale because of the defunding, and they told me that the most it would cost would be $230 with all the tests and what-not.

I'm a virgin so I don't need STD screenings of any kind, so I was wondering if anyone could help me narrow down how much I might have to pay for a pap/pelvic and medication for BV, if I have it? I also plan on getting back on birth control but if I go back on what I used to be on, it's one of the cheap ones I can get at CVS.

I'm unemployed right now and not having any idea how much this is going to cost me is stressing me out.

I live in the DC metro area and the PP closest to where I live is in Silver Spring, Maryland, so if anyone from the area could recommend free clinics or whatever, that would also be great. I've not had very good luck with free mental health clinics so I'm wary of getting an appointment at a free clinic here without having any personal experiences to go off of.

Thanks!

Comments

[archangelbeth]

All I can do is go to Google, but this Google search turned up a number of free health clinics in the DC area. I'd suggest calling them and asking what they cover and can do.

A Pap/Pelvic, from what I can find, ranges in cost from $50-$300. I would estimate the high side of that, but I would also say that you'd really need to call the PP in question and ask what their cost is for No STD Screening.

Must run! good luck!

[firebomber.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've called a number of those places and all of them, including PP, have told me that they can't tell me how much anything will cost.

Thanks!

[archangelbeth]

They... can't tell you the price... What. *beth goes headdesk* How... incredibly... um... unprofessional of them. To say the least.

Maybe you'd get better luck calling doctors and asking if they're taking patients without insurance, and asking them (well, the receptionists anyway) what they charge! Presumably they might actually know.

-_-

Anyway, wishing you more luck and being completely "whut" about places which can't say, "Oh, a pap generally costs $X."

[lilyofthewest.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize with them having trouble quoting a specific price -- the cost for the office visit changes depending on whether it is a problem focused visit, a well woman preventative visit, or if it is well woman visit with significant time spent on a separate additional concern.

There's a fee for the microscopic exam for BV (which might or might not apply depending on the outcome of your physical exam), and then if you need medications there would be a fee for those, but what is would depend on what medication you receive.

Why is medical billing so complicated?

[10acgirl.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could go to a walkin medical clinic? The one near my house in Annandale, VA is $89 without insurance. Are regular doctors capable of doing pelvic exams? I went when i had some vaginal itching and he took a look and gave me something for it. Mind you he didn't put his hands in me or anything, but they had stirrups on the table so I assume they intended people to lay down and spread em for something :)

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

General practitioners or even nurse practitioners are quite able to perform pap tests and pelvic exams, and in many areas in fact they perform the vast majority of pap tests and pelvic exams.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

If you've never had sexual contact and cost is an issue, you don't particularly need a pap test either -- a pap test looks for abnormal cervical cells that are caused by genital HPV, a sexually transmitted virus, so there's not a ton of value in someone who's never had sexual genital contact receiving a pap test. That might help bring the cost down for you and is worth considering.

A routine full pelvic exam is also highly debateable in terms of its value, so if you're struggling with costs it may be possible simply to ask for the BV swabs and test.

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

If you're a virgin, you probably don't need a Pap either. The changes it detects are caused by the HPV virus, and if you've never had sexual contact with someone who's been exposed, then you have zero chance of a true positive result. Maybe you could call and ask for a quote just on the BV check and birth control consult?

Hopefully one of the local free clinics on archangelbeth's list will be able to help you, but if not, there are some safe, at-home treatments for BV you could try: http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Bacterial_vaginosis#At-home_methods. Feel better, and good luck!

[omystarisfading.livejournal.com]

You called your local health department and it's not free?! Most STD/health clinics will actually test you for a Yeast Infection and BV if you ask (at least in Baltimore they do) and the services, I thought anyways, were free.

If they don't...and this could possibly be a silly and stupid idea but...do you have anyway of getting up to Baltimore or do you know people in Baltimore that would make it worth it to come up here? I know the 45 minute drive or a train ride is a pain in the arse, but Baltimore has a few free clinics. I have personally been to the Eastern Clinic near JHU Med Center and I'd recommend it. Granted the clinc is not located in the swankiest of 'hoods, but as long as you're not hanging around the clinic at 2 am, I'd say it's not too scary and your chances of seeing a scene from The Wire are minimal.

In January, when I was unemployed and totally broke, I had a feeling I had BV or something, so I went to one of the clinics. They not only tested me for a yeast infection and BV, but also did a pap smear and STD test. I know you're not sexually active, but it might be part of the routine- hey, it's free. I know if they detect something, they'll treat you for free as well. The only thing that sucks is that it's first-come, first-serve (as most free clinics are) so you need to get there right before they open to get a spot.

Obviously I wouldn't see the point of making the drive or train ride up if you can find something in the DC metro area for free or under $40 or something, but if it's going to be super pricey or you're nervous you'll have a bad experince at a DC clinic (I don't think you would though), I'd say c'mon up!

[sweetchild92.livejournal.com]

Is this an option?

http://sticc.org/pages/clinics.php