Planned Parenthood info please....

[ACooper]

No, not for me, for my daughter. She is turning to PP for her birth control needs.

I am not experienced with how they operate and can't offer any information to her.

What is the procedure for a first appointment? What should she expect to pay and what should she expect to be done? Is this initial appointment just discussion or is it more?

I guess I am asking anyone with experience with PP to walk me through a first appointment type thing.

Thanks for any info you can provide

 

[Pam111]

It has been years, so they may have changed and they may vary by location, but when I used them, the price was determined by income. Since mine was low enough, I was expected to give a "donation" if I could. Since I was current on a pap (within the past year), they didn't require me to have one. Once the year was up, I had to have a pap before they would give me more pills. My first appointment wasn't very long...basic medial history stuff and then I got the pills

 

[FoxyWench]

the one here does NOT do "by donation" its a sliding fee with low income expected to pay the "minimum" (for my deppo that was $60 every 3 months)

first apt, if you can provide proof of exam within a year itll just be a case of meet, chat and script, if not expect a full exam on the first visit before being ok'd for birth control.
otherwise youll rarely see the actual dr.

again its a sliding scale based on your (or the people "providing for you"'s) income, they do accept insurance too, so if shes got insurance shell be expacted to pay the normal co-pay, if not she'll have to provide poof of income, or if shes living with you your income, and her fees will be based on that.

ill be honest, i told them i was homeless because my dad makes quite a bit but couldnt afford to pay for my bc, and even being "homeless" and jobless i was still expected to pay $120 for the exam and $60 for my shot.

they are however very nice, i owe them $45 form my shot a while back and just cant afford it, they send me a bill but they told me to "just pay it when you can"

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

The one here lets you come in anytime during their walk in hours and you can get an appt that will produce a BC prescription the very same day. The one here also carries BC at a greatly reduced price however I know walmart also carries a small selection of BC at their super low prices too. That is assuming she doesn't have health insurance.

With insurance, my appointment/prescription was only $25 and I got in the very same day I called about their hours. The staff are generally very nice and helpful. There is a program currently that allows for a pelvic-free (no pelvic at appt time) Rx for BC if you fit their guidelines which is nice.

 

[ACooper]

Good to know. She is wanting to go with the shot because she will never remember to take those pills everyday.......she just won't, LOL

She had like 6 paps in the hospital back in October, I wonder if those will count? Also, you have no clue what you will have to pay before your first appointment? I assume that is when they do the paper work and all that?

EDIT: We have insurance that covers her but I have no clue if it covers birth control because I've never used it.

*goes to check on things*

 

[Pam111]

I'd just call and ask about their fee scale

 

[ACooper]

I think I will Pam. And I just called human resources at work to check on the insurance..........ya, they don't cover birth control at all. 0% BUT...........get this, THEY DO COVER VIAGRA?!? WTF? :rofl1:

 

[Pam111]

Of course they do! Ugh, that's silly

 

[Zoom]

Yeah, isn't that great? "We won't cover keeping you from getting pregnant, but boy will we cover helping you get that way!"

Here, they charge about $120 for the exam, flat fee. I talked them into writing out a generic prescription and I got it for $4 at the grocery store's pharmacy.

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Since the BC will be on the cheaper side anyways, I'd find out if they cover the appointment rather than the BC.

 

[ACooper]

Well she had about 6 paps back in October when her appendix burst........I can probably get documentation to that effect and avoid the exam & fee. They do not cover the appointment with planned parenthood at all.......I checked just a bit ago.

As to the prescription, she is wanting the depo shot. She won't remember to take the pill, she don't even remember to take her vitamin, LOL.......and she doesn't want anything inserted either so the shot is what she wants to try.

 

[Beanie]

Your insurance doesn't cover ANY birth control?? WTF? My insurance covers a good chunk of my depo injection. It used to be more expensive (like $30) but now that I'm back on it again, it's only $12.50 now.

I had a couple friends in high school that went to PP for their birth control and would tell them "I don't want my parents knowing I'm going on it." So they were basically treated as though they had no insurance. Not sure how cheap or expensive it ended up being for them but that is what they did. I suppose she can tell them her insurance won't cover the birth control and see what they can do based on that?

 

[CaliTerp07]

Even if it doesn't cover the birth control, insurance should absolutely cover the exam--mine's considered a "well woman check up" or something like that, and it's free. I pay $10/month for birth control on insurance, but even off of it it's only like $20 (for some generic something or other)

 

[zoe08]

Even if it doesn't cover the birth control, insurance should absolutely cover the exam--mine's considered a "well woman check up" or something like that, and it's free. I pay $10/month for birth control on insurance, but even off of it it's only like $20 (for some generic something or other)

What kind of BC are you on?

They just took my generic off the shelf, it was $152 for 3 months, and so now I'm back on ortho Lo, and it is $200 every 3 months! My insurance reimburses me, but fronting $200 every 3 months can be difficult at times.

 

[CaliTerp07]

What kind of BC are you on?

They just took my generic off the shelf, it was $152 for 3 months, and so now I'm back on ortho Lo, and it is $200 every 3 months! My insurance reimburses me, but fronting $200 every 3 months can be difficult at times.

It's called Zovia. I don't even know what it's generic for, to be honest. It's what was prescribed for me back in college to regulate periods, and I've stuck with it for years.

Edit: Just googled it, and maybe it's not generic--it's nice and cheap though!

 

[wcladymacbeth]

When I did it.... almost 10 years ago.. I had a PAP on the first visit, and then they gave me some birth control. Then when I went away to college they actually mailed me the pills I paid like $11/month on the lowest income level.

 

[wcladymacbeth]

Oh and some birth control pills are super cheap at certain stores like Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer, etc. If any of your local stores have the $4 generics program, check into it, my local stores also have an option for $9 for a month supply of oral contraceptive pills.

 

[ACooper]

Well do you just ask your doctor for a BC script?

LOL, hopefully not like my vet.......she don't write prescriptions, buy it from her or don't get it, hahaha

 

[CaliTerp07]

Well do you just ask your doctor for a BC script?

LOL, hopefully not like my vet.......she don't write prescriptions, buy it from her or don't get it, hahaha

Of course...how else would you do it?

 

[Beanie]

Yes. Easiest way is to actually have the doctor fax or call the rx straight in to the pharmacy you use and then you just go pick up your pills or whatever. When I had to get stitches at 6pm on a Sunday I went to convenient care and the doctor did them there, then called in an antibiotic for me to the closest Walgreens that was 24hr, since my regular pharmacy was of course closed.