My visit to Planned Parenthood

I finally had my visit to the local Planned Parenthood - It was quite the experience!

I approached the corner of a large and unmarked building and a middle aged man was wordlessly handing out flyers across the street closest to me. I would later discover the pamphlet was for abortion alternatives. Then right in front of the building was a single grizzly looking older man was carrying a sandwich board plastered with crude and grotesque pictures that were a bit difficult to identify, and he was yelling on about how "inside, they cut up babies and torture them!" He sounded so earnest and concerned. If I had more time I would have  liked to inform him about the importance of having a choice at all in an advanced country, but more importantly that most people probably visited Planned Parenthood for women's healthcare, STD testing services and contraception. But I was running late for my appointment and I didn't feel like getting knifed this fine morning, particularly considering I don't have health insurance for the inevitable visit to the ER that would follow an encounter with anyone carrying signs showing blood and guts. I was very grateful that there was a security guard standing outside keeping an eye on the grizzly man and ushering clients inside.

When I made it through all the many doors and security checkpoints, I was somewhat surprised to see over 20 young women, aged 18-35 waiting for their appointments. It was just before 9am and the seats were all filled! Most of them were in business casual attire and the demographic was split nearly 50/50 between whites and non-whites. They were all young women and it was very quiet in the room, but no more quiet than  your average doctor waiting room I suppose.

I was asked to report upstairs to the financial assessment counselor and was pretty disappointed to learn that despite making barely enough money to pay rent, I still made too much for their free healthcare. But I did qualify for reduced rates which put the annual checkup at about $125 and if I chose to get birth control on premises it would cost me $15 a pack instead of $20. The assessment advisor seemed to rely almost completely on my honest to assess qualifications. I brought some bank statements since I don't get paystubs, but she didn't seem to understand that as a consultant, my last paycheck could be THE last paycheck for a WHILE.

Since the cost was fairly reasonable I didn't argue too much. Just a doctor's visit to a GYN paying cash costs upwards of $150, forget about the lab tests and cancer screening! I gladly took my somewhat-reduced note and was shuffled downstairs again to pay first. Then I was shuffled to a nurse who would create my file and print a bunch of stickers to go on all the paperwork. So far, she was the nicest of the 4 or 5 administrators I had already encountered. She asked if I wanted an HIV test, and since I already paid for my services, I was pleased to see that this service provider seemed to give them FREE OF CHARGE. If that isn't incentive to check your health and stay safe, I don't know what is.

There was a pretty significant backup as there was only 1 doctor on duty and so I was shuffled into the office with the HIV counselor. Unfortunately not much of a counselor - all she did was ask me to sign a form and let me know that they must report all results to the Department of Health whether the result was positive or negative. No sensitivity, no asking if I had any concerns or questions, nada. However, I was absolutely DELIGHTED to find out that instead of the usual nerve-wracking blood draws, HIV tests at Planned Parenthood are done with a simple oral swab! Painless, 99.3% accurate and results in 20 minutes. Kudos to biotech companies who have worked so hard to make it all simple, painless and accurate. Very big kudos indeed! 

An hour later, I was finally called in for my women's health check. I was about 9 months late having my checkup so I was a bit nervous, particularly having been shuttled to about 6 different people who didn't care to spend more than a minute with me. I was so impressed at the service I received with the doctor, it was worth the 3 hour total wait and morose faces I previously encountered. The doctor was young, kind, clearly very intelligent and very responsive. First of all she apologized for the long wait - can you imagine?? Then she told me my HIV test came back negative and then checked my glands, breathing and heartrate, and then proceeded with the exam.

We even chatted about travel and work during the exam, so I didn't feel a thing! She asked if I had any concerns and treated me with more respect and sensitivity than my previous high-priced Beverly Hills doctor. I'll take this doctor anyday, and she is definitely getting a Christmas Present from me!

It just goes to show you that in America (and perhaps all over the world) you will find excellent professionals serving people from all walks of life, from the diamond-encrusted Park Avenue types to the frightened-out-of-their-wits teenagers. I'm just really glad that those in the middle aren't lost in the shuffle, so that this healthcare-less young woman can stay healthy enough to make it to the next screen.

Planned Parenthood, Healthcare Reform, and the actual end-user

This video just came out today on Facebook's Planned Parenthood page. Or is it Planned Parenthood's Facebook page - who does it actually belong to?? Regardless, it's a great piece of propaganda/PSA, but let's see what effects it really has for those lives it promises to enhance. Obama seemed to have his heart in the right place as well as a thoughtful trajectory, but I think it's fairly well known that the amount of regulation, oversight and plans for implementation are flimsy at best. Honestly, I think it takes a woman to get all the details in place... Hilary, where did you go?

I have to give credit to Planned Parenthood's earlier Facebook campaigns on GYT (Getting Yourself Tested). Their almost daily reminders seemed to have a measurable impact as hundreds of people all over the world re-posted and replied to the status message indicating that they too, got tested. Being something I'm due for as well, one particular post offering online appointments set me into motion too.

I haven't had health insurance since I left the private sector back in February 2009 to go work with UNICEF. I had all my doctor's appointments done before I left but I was hoping to become employed and insured again soon after I returned from Africa, but frightening enough - that never happened. I applied online for Blue Cross my last month in Bangui, but I got denied and didn't have the means to pay for a long and confusing discussion about why. I don't have any health issues except back problems I developed sitting at a desk in an office for 4 years, 9 hours a day. I've seen it before. My own mother has gotten denied for health insurance too because of a "pre-existing condition".

Being almost 9 months late on my annual appointment, I too was compelled by the ads to at least visit a Planned Parenthood to try and obtain low cost women's health care. What I found on the website is that the online presence is established, but the ability to select or make appointments was not truly functional. I received an email 2 days later asking me to call the main center, but advising me that they were completely booked until next month. I can't believe there is ONE Planned Parenthood in all of Manhattan! I don't know how they handle the volume of a borough of millions!

The next day I called, was on hold for a reasonable 10 minutes, and made an appointment to see an entitlement counselor and a practitioner for approximately 3 weeks later. I can't wait to see how this appointment goes and how much it will cost considering the new healthcare bill and all that it touts. I'm glad Planned Parenthood bombarded me with reminders to take care of my own health and my own needs. All this time I was waiting for some company or some law to do it for me - what a mistake. I'll let you know what happens at my appointment! Considering my last ob/gyn was in Beverly Hills, I expect this experience to be nothing short of chaos. But I'm prepared, and thankful that we even have low-cost options to begin with in America - funded in one way or another by the might of someone who cared about someone other than themselves.