I am a legal adult, college student, and live with my parents during the summer. I come from a very strict family, and one of those rules is no sex, no birth control, no nothing.

Well, I wanted birth control. And after a year of being sexually active behind my parents' backs I decided I wanted birth control pills. Several of my friends suggested going to Planned Parenthood to get very cheap and sometimes free pills. So, I finally gave in, told my parents I was going out to lunch with a friend, and went to my appointment which I made online a week before.

I grabbed 35$ from the ATM assuming that would be enough to cover the costs of some pills. I could not use my insurance on this visit since not only do my parents not let me carry my insurance card, but they would see on the insurance statement that I had gone to PP. I also could not use my debit card because my parents check my bank statements.

At my appointment, I filled out all my forms, then was called back. One of the first questions I was asked was "How are you supported?" I do not have a job currently and live with my parents. I pay for my college education on my own, I largely buy all of my own food at my house, and borrow my parent's car. I could probably support myself if I moved out, but I would be estranging myself from my family and yada yada. Yes, I know that my parents technically "support" and have raised me. I don't need to be lectured on that, and that is not the point of this report.

Anyways, the lady told me that since I lived at home and was supported by my parents, I would be charged based on their incomes. My parents make a ton of money. I told her the numbers, and she told me that I would have to pay full price for the visit and pills. That amounted to 150$ for the visit and 45$ per pack of birth control pills. My jaw dropped. I did not have 200$ to spend. Nobody has 200$ to just throw around. Eventually she decides to be "nice" considering my situation and says it's going to be 30$ for the visit, and 8$ per pack of pills. Even then, I only came with 35$ in cash. So I ended up having to pay with my 35$ in cash and 3 dollars charged onto my debit card, which now my parents are going to see.

The next time I go to PP, I would have to show that I have no income and that I am not supported by my parents or else I will end up shelling out 200$. I cannot afford to go to PP again.

The point of this report is to tell other older teens who can't use insurance for whatever reason but live with their rich parents that PP will NOT be cheap. This is an assumption that is clearly wrong, at least in the state of Ohio. Find somewhere else to get your birth control.

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7 Updates & Rebuttals

Stacey

Dallas,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Sorry

#2Consumer Comment

Fri, May 27, 2011

About the EOB comment. I was thinking about the Dr bill which will show what procedures were done.

Stacey

Dallas,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Wrong

#3Consumer Comment

Fri, May 27, 2011

An EOB will explain all the charges made which includes pap smears and gyno exams. At your age you should be doing this regardless for your health. The DR can prescribe you birth control which does not show up on the EOB. I suggest you speak with your parents about these needs ie: seeing a Gynocologist for your yearly pap and breast exam. This is about your health period. Please keep on hand condoms which you can just pick up at the local Walgreens or CVS.

This is for your protection because the pill does not prevent the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Good luck.

Hiding in plain sight

Littleton,
Colorado,
U.S.A.

Here is what to do

#4Consumer Suggestion

Thu, May 26, 2011

If you are a legal adult then it does not matter if your parents pay your insurance. You should be sing a regular doctor for physicals and the doctor has the insurance information. You should be having PAP smears done reardless. Next time you are at your doctor (or make up a reason to go to your doctor) and tell the doctor that you want the pill. The doctor can not tell your parents because reproductive health is highly protected area. The notice your parents get from the insurance (called an EOB) only says you had an office visit, nothing more. If your parents see that you are on the pills tell them that you were having really bad cramps and the doctor put you on the pill to regulat your period and to decrease the cramps. Once the doctor sees you once you can fill your prescription pretty cheap (4-10$)

Ramjet

Somewhere,
Michigan,
U.S.A.

She's trying at least.

#5Consumer Comment

Thu, May 26, 2011

While I have mixed feeling about all of this, I applaud the OP for intending to not get pregnant.

Certainly it would be best to not have sex at all, but I think most people, if they are honest, would have to agree that's not a very viable option. It certainly wasn't for me or my girlfriends. We were just lucky because birth control was not nearly as easy to get nor as effective.

I know it was not your purpose with this post to get into whether you should have sex or not.

I understand your purpose.

Just please be careful.

anonymous

United States of America

I'm not an idiot.

#6Author of original report

Thu, May 26, 2011

Okay, so you're saying I shouldn't lie to my parents or else I am immature. That would entail me not having sex until I'm married. You think I should follow that rule? I'm not going to completely subordinate myself to my parents' views.

I do not have 200$ to spend on birth control. I don't know what your problem with that is. I said I didn't want to be lectured on being raised by my parents. I've had several jobs and saved my money, but 200$ is too much.

There are also other reasons besides the main purpose of birth control pills that I wanted them. And I know the safest way is to double up, and that was my plan. I'm not an idiot about this stuff.

I cannot go to the health center at school because that shows up on my school account online which my parents have access to. But, according to you I should follow my parents' wishes so I won't be having sex anyways.

So, to reiterate, the point of this report was to tell other teens that PP is NOT cheap if your parents are loaded. No, I'm not saying that is PP's fault, it's the fault of expensive healthcare. But the assumption that you can get cheap pills at PP is completely false for some individuals.

Cory

San Antonio,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Typical Kids Today

#7Consumer Comment

Wed, May 25, 2011

There's just so much wrong with this post. She seems to blame PP for the high price of birth control Hello? A couple of things. One, she doesn't want her parents to find out. That's real mature. Try not lying to your parents. Many or most schools offer birth control on campus. There are other types of birth control and pills DON'T protect aganist STDs. I like the part were you point out where you can't afford the $200 for the pills. NO birth control is 100% perfect and the starting price to raise a child to 18 years of age is $180,000 or more. With your attitude, you may be a bit immature to be having sex. Try watching that idiot show 16 and pregnant to get an idea what it might be like.

mr rik

miami,
Florida,
USA

Take it easy

#8Consumer Comment

Wed, May 25, 2011

Stop trying to jump through hoops to get your birth control from pp and please your parents. Just let nature take its course, then if you need an abortion let them deal with it.

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