This post is made possible with support from the Mission List. All opinions are my own. I am grateful to have this platform to share with you my thoughts on what would life be like without Planned Parenthood? When I was in my early 20’s, I was working as a waitress and attending college. I had a steady boyfriend who I hoped I would marry one day. Because I was working part-time, my company did not provide insurance. I barely had the money to pay my basic expenses, let alone pay for health insurance. When it came to taking care of my health, I relied on Planned Parenthood and the local health departments.
When I visited Planned Parenthood, I had access to many services. They provide sexual and reproductive health care to women, men, and adolescents worldwide. In a single year, they offer help to nearly 5 million people. I had access to tests and treatment for STD’s and birth control. I was able to get my yearly GYN exam, including my pap smear and breast exam. This was crucial for me as cervical and breast cancer ran in my family. Learn more about the services Planned Parenthood offers —–> HERE <——
With the perilous position of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the possibility of “defunding” of Planned Parenthood, it gave me pause. I wondered what would life be like without Planned Parenthood? How different would my life be like if I hadn’t had access to this low cost, and often free, healthcare? I could have contracted an STD and not be treated for it. I could have been pregnant or even had undetected cancer. For detailed information on the four groups who will be most impacted with the loss of Planned Parenthood , please visit —-> HERE <—-
My life could have gone from having an inconvenience to a potential death sentence. If you have an untreated STD, you pass that on to your partner. If you are not in a monogamous relationship, you and your partner can pass it on, and so on. If I were to get pregnant, I would have had to quit my job when I couldn’t wait tables anymore.
I may have had to quit school. I wanted kids, but not then. And God forbid, what if I were to have had a lump in my breast that no one knew about? Early detection is so crucial. Any way you look at it, my life would have been changed forever. Just like the women in this powerful video from Joss Whedon.
I told you it was powerful! What scares the crap out of me is what would life be like without Planned Parenthood for my children? I have a 30 year old daughter who is currently enrolled in Obamacare. I also have an 18 year old daughter. She and I are currently on state Medicaid. What happens to us if Obamacare is repealed and Planned Parenthood loses their funding? I get a bit sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Here is an overview of what could happen:
- Low-income patients won’t receive healthcare from Planned Parenthood: Every year, 2.5 million women, men, and young people rely on Planned Parenthood for essential health care services, like birth control and lifesaving cancer screenings. Many, especially those in rural areas, will have nowhere else to turn for these services. Contrary to what you may have heard, local health care centers cannot absorb all of those who lose the benefits of Planned Parenthood.
- Those with a pre-existing condition lose protection: The community rating provision prohibits people from being charged more based on health status, gender, health status, occupation, and age. If community rating provision are lost, insurance companies can charge sky-high prices for coverage. This directly discriminates against women. Without the provision, insurers can claim having given birth, having had a C-section, or having been a survivor of domestic violence is a so-called pre-existing condition. A woman with breast cancer could face almost $30K in additional charges for her health coverage. My daughter’s and I could never afford this.
- No healthcare coverage for many services: Currently, 13 million women have health plans to cover services like maternity and newborn care, mental health services, and prescription drugs. This is because we have the Essential Health Benefits provision. What if my daughter gets pregnant? What happens to her baby? Where do they get affordable care if we lose these provisions? Also, new mothers could be forced to return to work within 60 days of giving birth. What about mother’s who had health related issues at thebirth of their child and they aren’t well enough to go back to work? What do they do?
- State Medicaid programs will be gutted: Reduced federal funds for state Medicaid programs will disproportionately harm women — women of color, in particular. For example, to save money, states may choose to limit coverage of prenatal visits and family planning services, or states may cut people from their programs.
- A Nationwide ban on abortion coverage: I know this is a sticky wicket of a subject. I get that some people don’t support this coverage. If this is you, please feel free to skip this section. I had a friend who was raped at a party and got pregnant. She was 16. She was not ready to have a baby. She was able to safely have an abortion. What if that was my daughter? Or yours? Regardless of where you stand on the issue, don’t women have the damn right to chose what happens to their bodies?
So, the question is, what can you do? You can protest the bill that is repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood. There are several ways to do this. You can click-to-call your senator, click-to-tweet your senator, tag Your Senators on Facebook or Tweet Your Representative What You Think of Their Vote.
Be sure to support and stay connected with Planned Parenthood Action on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Do you have a personal connection to this story? How do you plan to ask the Senate to vote against the AHCA and the “defunding” of Planned Parenthood?
I would love to hear in the comments below!
Joely Smith says
June 8, 2017 at 6:24 pmIt is sad to see any organization having to close down that does so much good for so many people! It is not just the women that Planned Parenthood helps either but entire families are affected when places like this close.
Brandy says
June 8, 2017 at 6:37 pmPlanned Parenthood does do a lot of good, I know people who would have have been able to get birth control methods without that place back in the day. I think our current media enjoys focusing on negatives, but every place can have bad publicity or negativity, it doesn’t make it all bad.
Ben Butler says
June 8, 2017 at 6:41 pmThis makes me sick. This war against Planned Parenthood is ridiculous. It’s the product of hyper-religious zealots who latch on to the fact that, yes, Planned Parenthood offers abortion services. However, the majority of what Planned Parenthood does is all the other aspects of women’s reproductive health.
Melissa Chapman says
June 8, 2017 at 7:58 pmPlanned Parenthood really is a great organization that helps so many I hope it does not get cancelled. You have so many great ideas regarding the current state of affairs I really hope things stay the same.
Jeni says
June 8, 2017 at 8:55 pmLife would be terrible for many without Planned Parenthood. They do so much for so many and offer services that many people cannot get other places. A lot of people think they are strictly abortions, but they are so much more than that. I would be sad to see Planned Parenthood leave.
Lana simanovicki says
June 8, 2017 at 9:26 pmIf there was no planned parenthood I don’t even wanna think about it.it will be horrible
Sarah L says
June 9, 2017 at 1:26 amI’ve been calling my senators & reps for months about PP. They are crucial.
Carol Cassara says
June 9, 2017 at 1:33 amWE seriously cannot risk this much just. It benefits a lot of people especially the young women that have bright futures ahead of them. Planned Parenthood cannot be taken away.
Dogvills says
June 9, 2017 at 2:38 amThis is very important. How I wish we also have this kind of program here.
mycraftingworld says
June 9, 2017 at 7:22 amThey do some good work. Thank you for your view point on this subject.
Brianne says
June 9, 2017 at 8:47 amThis is such an important read and I couldn’t agree more with you! We need to discuss this issue more!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
June 9, 2017 at 10:06 amI also agree that Planned Parenthood cannot be taken away.
I really like the diagram you included in this article – very informative.
margarette says
June 9, 2017 at 12:27 pmWow glad to know that their is such thing like this in your country. Here in Philippines we had none.
Stephanie Pass says
June 9, 2017 at 2:37 pmI don’t know what our congress people are thinking. Planned Parenthood is so necessary for so many people.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
June 9, 2017 at 5:19 pmWhen I hear people complain about Planned Parenthood, it makes me wonder how much they actually know about the organization. They actually do a lot more than women services. I am in to my 40s, and I first started at Planned Parenthood as a teen. My parents were self employed and did not have insurance. I had to go on birth control at a fairly young age because I had PCOS and they didn’t have options like they do now for treatment. My periods were excruciating. I can’t imagine how I would have gotten the service I did without PP, because at that time, there was no way myself or my family could have afforded it.
Jennifer says
June 10, 2017 at 7:43 amI didn’t realize that planned parenthood covered so much. All I have ever heard is the abortion side of things. Thanks or opening my eyes to how important they are.
Lisa Queen says
June 10, 2017 at 5:20 pmI stand with Planned Parenthood also. I am going to get onboard with this project. Thanks!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
June 11, 2017 at 8:35 pmI want to keep an open mind on this topic. Honestly, I am pro-life. I know Planned Parenthood covers a lot of different areas of women’s health. Hopefully everything works out for the best.
The Cubicle Chick says
June 12, 2017 at 11:36 amI’ve never had to use Planned Parenthood but I’m sure they help millions of women. I’m all for any organization that helps keep women and girls healthy. – yolonda
Jeanine Carlson says
July 17, 2017 at 3:18 amThere are so many programs out there that are suffering because of the AHCA. Some states have no insurance available because the companies have pulled completely out of their states. What a sorry mess we’re in!
Linda Szymoniak says
July 30, 2017 at 2:54 pmPlanned Parenthood does SO much good. Those who are against it mostly just think of abortions, but that’s such a small portion of the programs they have available. Availability of easy access to birth control is helping many women – especially those who are low income. For those who are pregnant, they can get screenings, prenatal vitamins (which are SO important to the health of both the mother and baby), and other things. Cancer screenings which can help detect cancer earlier than some people would be able to tell themselves – and therefore increase their chances of overcoming it – are vital. It worries me just how many legislators are against PP – and while they are mostly men, it’s even more disconcerting how many women in congress are quick to vote against funding for Planned Parenthood. I’ve signed more petitions than I can count, emailed my congressman and senators, and done so much more. It’s important that women have access to programs that protect their health and the health of their babies.