Planned Parenthood is more than just an abortion clinic. It provides free or low cost health care, sexual education and other general health care services to people who wouldn’t be able to receive it otherwise.
The entire mission is dedicated to helping people get affordable health care and sexual education needed to can make informed health decisions, no matter their ethnicity or income level.
A total of 9.7 million services were provided through Planned Parenthood according to its 2017-2018 annual report. Over 70,000 patients were able to detect cancer and other abnormalities early due to the service they received through Planned Parenthood. Over half a million breast cancer screenings and pap smears were performed last year.
The organization demonstrates an active role in politics with leaders of different locations across the country speaking on specific issues that need to be addressed.
Through fighting for reproductive rights, Planned Parenthood encourages discussion about and emphasizes the importance of women’s rights.
Attention is being brought back onto Planned Parenthood due to its announcement of building the largest abortion clinic in Illinois near the Missouri state line earlier this month. Women of Missouri deal with some of the strictest regulations when it comes to receiving an abortion.
The Guchmacher Institute reported that women seeking abortions must undergo counseling in person designed to discourage them from getting an abortion and wait 72 hours before the procedure can be performed. There is also only one abortion clinic in the state. These conditions have forced women to travel to Illinois where access to abortions has been widened and restrictions have been loosened.
The Trump Administration implemented a gag rule earlier this year that has severely affected Planned Parenthood’s funding through Title X. The Title X Family Planning Program has been around for 50 years and is dedicated to helping Americans get affordable birth control and reproductive health care.
Planned Parenthood serves 40% of its patients from those that receive health care through Title X. Now, due to lack of funding from the gag rule, their ability to service these people is limited.
Despite this, Planned Parenthood is fighting to restore Title X funding to the centers to make it clear that health care is at risk for those who are struggling, which is the majority of its patients. The organization provides general health care, cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and other types of health care to individuals who couldn’t afford these services otherwise.
Students in California have access to free or low cost services at Planned Parenthood. There are three centers close to Fullerton College in Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana. All three centers provide the standard services, including abortion and LGBTQ services. Most services are available on a walk-in basis, but it is encouraged to call ahead as same day appointments are typically available.
While these centers accept insurance like Medicaid and Medi-Cal, no one will be turned away for to their inability to pay. The staff at the centers will work with individuals to help them get coverage, determining if patients qualify for state-funded programs or lower fee scales.
The staff members of Planned Parenthood work hard to provide quality health care for everybody, no matter the income level, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity. They believe in the patient’s right to their own body. Patients are certain to receive care for any of their health needs from their local Planned Parenthood clinic.
