planned parenthood upped costs.

[oooruinerooo.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure i need to share this with my uterus buddies here...

recently, i called planned parenthood to set up my annual (need some more BC). last year, i paid 80-90 bucks for my initial visit with them. they told me every year after, i'd pay around 35-40 bucks, which is totally within reason, right? right.

well, this year, they tell me i'll be paying 80 bucks again. when i asked why, they told me that they had to up their cost. they said every visit will be 80 dollars from now on. they did suggest their low cost clinic for those who qualify about half an hour away from me. i've been to their low cost clinic before, and, well, it's pretty ghetto. even with an appointment, which is hard to get, you still wait for over 2 hours, and if it gets to closing time, and you haven't been seen yet, you have to come back another day. there are no guarantees.

i understand the demand for gynecological health care. in fact, i understand the demand for decent health care for anyone in this country. the point of planned parenthood, period, is to reach out to those without insurance, and make sure that these young and adult ladies do not end up with std's or pregnant. they make it affordable and private.

but it seems (sorry for any right-wing people i may offend, but this is the truth) that the government and our president, have decided to take away even more from health care in this nation, especially from companies like planned parenthood.

this is ridiculous. with a president who says things like 'no child left behind', this is completely outrageous.

i'm still going to my appointment, because i have to, and i need to, but the position the government has put companies like planned parenthood in is unfair. they have very few legitimate low-cost clinics in this country, and the ones we do have are almost impossible to get into and seek the proper attention from.

i just thought i'd let you guys know, in case you didn't. and in case you were thinking of making a visit, perhaps you can find somewhere else to go, or be better prepared.

EDIT

someone asked that i include where i am located.

i live in dallas, tx. i am referring to the planned parenthoods in DFW. the 'low-cost' clinic is located in south arlington, off cooper street (for those of you in this area).

perhaps this came off a little confusing: because of the president cutting funding to companies like planned parenthood (and any clinic that supports the possibility of abortion), we have less 'low cost clinics', and less planned-parenthood locations. it's becoming increasingly difficult to get treatment at these places, and the costs are rising. it isn't pp's fault. it's the government.

i wanted to express my feelings on this matter, and i thought this would be a good place. i also wanted to give a head's up to everyone and let you guys know that if PP is your clinic, be prepared financially.

thanks.

Comments

[cbackson.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'm missing the connection here, but what did the government do that prompted the price increase?

[sonnetxxix.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's necessarily that the government caused PP to up the price but that the government doesn't offer any lower-cost or free alternatives for people that have problems paying $80 a visit.

[sparkle-lite.livejournal.com]

Florida may not be the OP's state, but legislations passed by Jeb Bush, funding for Planned Parenthood in the whole state has been cut drastically...

[sparkle-lite.livejournal.com]

**edit** "legislations passed by the state, under/proposed by The Gov. have cut funding"

[sonnetxxix.livejournal.com]

I agree. There's a big need for healthcare reform. It's so complicated though that I'm wondering if I'll ever see it happen in my lifetime. One thing that I would suggest is a healthcare spending account. That way, you pay a little every paycheck so you know you'll have the money for your appointments when you need it.

[ephemyryl.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised by fee hikes; Planned Parenthood is a business, first and foremost, and so is out for profit. Their beiginings were pretty vile (Sanger aimed to "stop the multiplication of the unfit"), and I doubt the organisation is much improved, though indivdual clinics may be helping.

[plastikgyrl.livejournal.com]

Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization, not a business. As such, it depends on funding from individuals, government grants, and philanthropic organizations. If the government in question decides that it will not give any money to organizations that discuss abortion as an option, it means that individual PP clinics need to redistribute their operating budgets and charge more to accommodate the shortfall.

[plastikgyrl.livejournal.com]

The US federal government used to provide foreign aid to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, among other NGOs. When the "gag order" came into effect, NGOs working in reproductive health had to decide whether to continue to offer information about abortion as an option and lose all US funding, or never discuss it and accept the money. IFPP chose to continue on as always, with significantly fewer financial resources as a result.

That's my understanding, anyway. How it works on a domestic level in the US is something to which I cannot speak, though I do know that various levels of government provide funding to the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health (formerly known as Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada) and Planned Parenthood organizations across our country.

[plastikgyrl.livejournal.com]

That should read IPPF, not IFPP.

[spike-train.livejournal.com]

Their national office receives little from the government, but the clinics and such affiliated them receive, in total, around a third of their money from government grants and contracts.

Source (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/report-05.pdf)

[achtungbaby80.livejournal.com]

I'm just curious...what is meant by "unfit" here? I am highly educated, mentally stable, and employed, but I would still consider myself "unfit" to have a child at this point because I am simply not ready. In that case, I think birth control is a good thing!

[threetoedcharli.livejournal.com]

Are you insinuating that planned parenthood engages in eugenics with your statement about doubting that "the organisation is much improved"?

[poppleshatesyou.livejournal.com]

What area are you in? PPH varies so greatly in cost depending on the state, the location, the specific clinic, personal income etc.
It would be super helpful for people to know what area you are in, maybe even the specific clinic you are talking about.

[happens.livejournal.com]

I didn't have to pay anything when I went to to get BCP... ?

[sparkle-lite.livejournal.com]

ugh, due to lack of government funding and support, my PP in central florida doesn't offer a sliding scale based on income, or anything more than a $10 discount for students. One of the offices in my area even stopped offering the free appointments on Wednesday nights that were for anyone under 18. They also do not accept any form of insurance. 2 of the 4 clinics within an hour from me have also closed due to lack of $$. It makes me sad, and wish that I could do more to support the cause.

[speckled-hen.livejournal.com]

It's arguments like this that make me really glad to live in the UK. Our healthcare is funded for by our taxes, our prescriptions cost a flat fee of £6.something/$12 (I've not had one for a while so don't know the exact pence) and birth control is free. Whilst it may be slow to get seen in some cases, you will get there eventually.
I positively balk at the costs of some of the treatments/prescription costs in the US. Surely there can be something that can be done?

[agraciado.livejournal.com]

Of all the funds Planned Parenthood receives at 40% comes from the federal government. That doesn't even count state and local tax payer dollars. The rest of the money they get is from private donations charging people for services.

The reason in Texas Planned Parenthood is so expensive isn't because of the *evil* George Bush or the federal government you talk about, it's because so your local Texas government who decided to cut funding. The texas government (read: not the federal government) decided to cut most texas planned parenthood's budget by 50%. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaustin/family-planning-funding-cuts%97fact-sheet.htm

In fact, according to budgets provided by Planned Parenthood themselves, since Bush has been in office they received an increase of $26 million towards their budget---Clinton's budget was $254 million and Bush's budget is $280 million.

So before you start president bashing saying how he's the reason your planned parenthood visit costs more then it should, get your facts straight ;)