Planned Parenthood

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Planned Parenthood
6
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 9:44am
I posted this in a another thread, but I thought I'd create a new one to make sure most people see this. I'm not sure how many know they have this as an option. Plus I failed to put in the web address for their website in the other message.

One thing you can do if your insurance doesn't cover your choice of birth control(my insurance doesn't cover any birth control) is check out the Planned Parenthood that is closest to you. The one in my area offers all birth control pills for $17 a month, the ring for $17 a month, the patch for $20 a month, and the copper IUD for $225. The prices are very affordable and reasonable. Here's the Planned Parenthood website.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

On the lower right hand corner of the page, there is option to search for a Planned Parenthood near you based on area code.

They also will do pap tests. The one I'm going to charges $70 for a pap test. They probably do std tests too, but I wasn't concerned with that to find out for sure. They give out condoms for free. Not all birth control options are available there, but they seem to have most. For instance, the one I went to did not have the minipill. They can give you a prescription for the minipill still, but they won't be able to give it to you a low cost since they don't carry it. If that happens, see if there is a generic version at the pharmacy, because it will be much cheaper. Most of the pills seem to have generic versions. There are no generic versions of the patch and ring at this point in time. I also didn't ask about the shots, because I wasn't interested in them, but they probably do those as well.

-Crystal









iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 10:07am
I checked out the website for my area, which is Orlando and here is their listing of services for women. I'm sure other Planned Parenthoods provide similar services. I was kind of surprised they also treat UTIs and do colposcopies and cryotherapy. They seem to provide most gynecological services. They also offer special services for teens and men.

Services That We Provide For Women

Birth Control

Pregnancy testing, options counseling and referrals

Emergency Contraception Plan (ECP)

Annual gynecological exams

STD testing and treatment

bcNOW!

Birth Control Now - a program that allows many healthy women to receive hormonal birth control (pills, Depo-Provera, Emergency Contraception, NuvaRing and OrthoEvra) without first having a pelvic exam.

Cancer screenings

(pap tests and breast exams)

Confidential HIV testing and counseling

Urinary tract infection diagnosis and treatment

Colposcopy

Cryotherapy

Free Condoms



-Crystal

Avatar for kissmedeadly
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 3:55pm
When I was uninsured, they were a life saver- There is also many clinics that you can go to, I went to one called MIC. Look up Clinics in the phone book/ internet and you can find a lot of great resources.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 4:04pm
Same here...when I was in college out of state years ago, my parents insurance didn't really help because the coverage was so low for 'out of network' providers.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 6:43pm
I agree! Planned parenthood has been a lifesaver for me. My insurance does not cover birth control (which I think is really stupid, by the way!) so I am able to get my pill for half the cost that I would pay by going through my gyno. Also, at Planned Parenthood (at least the one I go to) they offer a plan called "h.o.p.e." which is "hormones with optional pelvic exam". This gives you the option of getting a prescrition for birth control without having to get an exam. I know that it's important to get exams, but it's nice to know that the option is there not to be required to have one. The people there are really helpful. I've had a good experience with them.

Stacey

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 9:17pm

Hey Stacey,


Check out this link regarding your insurance issue: www.covermypills.org


:-)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 10:02pm
I am not a fan of planned parenthood, at least the one where I live. They are so expensive, and were not very resonable when I tried to explain I could not pay that much. One example was when I needed emergency contraceptive... I have taken it before from there, and they wanted to charge me $70. After a 20 minute discussion on how ridiculus that price was, I called my doctor who called in the prescription and got it for $10. Every time I have ever gone there, they have charged high prices. I was going to get my birth control through them, but they wanted too much money to even talk about it.

My school's health center offers free services to women. The only cost is for prescriptions. Pap Smears, STD testing, and any other kind of exams are free. I went to them for my birth control, and for Seasonal I only pay $10.40 every 3 months. I realize not ever school is like that, but every option should be explored for best pricing. Planned Parenthood is good in some areas, but there can be better options.


Edited 5/4/2004 10:08 pm ET ET by crys9876