Planned Parenthood: Affordable Care

Planned Parenthood is a controversial topic sweeping the nation of America with political and moral issues. Every day one could come across a new article on it, stubble upon a news article in their local paper or even on their local news station. Planned Parenthood directly provides reproductive health services, is involved in teach young students about sexual education, contributes to research in reproductive technology, and interacts with legal and political efforts aimed at protecting and developing reproductive rights.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides healthcare and education to both men and women, having over 650 health centers that provide healthcare to countless communities around the world. Shockingly, 78% of those who use Planned Parenthoods services live at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, showing how important this organization is to low-income families (Topulos, Greene, Drazen). Their mission statement is “A Reason for Being”, which is shown through their efforts to provide health care, advocate public policies, create educational programs, and endorse research. There are those who do not believe Planned Parenthood should be funded by the government, though, due to the fact that they provide abortions to women in need. Studies show that the effects of not having Planned Parenthood available are disastrous, causing low-income families to lack a healthcare provider and the number of those who are infected with STD’s and STI’s to rise. The biggest concern communities have about the government defunding Planned Parenthood is the effects that it would have on low-income families who would no longer have access to something that many people take for granted: health care. Although many believe that Planned Parenthood mostly provides abortions, in reality, only 3% of the people that seek help from them receive an abortion, while 97% receive affordable and, in many cases,

Abortions only make up three percent of the procedures done at Planned Parenthood clinics (“2014 2015 Annual Report”). There are a variety of other life saving and essential health care procedures done at the clinics, such as STD and STI testing, pregnancy tests, contraception, exams, and other health issues relating to both men and women. Many people believe that the federal government should defund planned parenthood; however, this would make it almost impossible for many low-income individuals to receive the care that they need. The federal government should not defund Planned Parenthood (PP) because abortion is not a valid reason for opposing funding because it is allowed by law, low-income individuals and families need the affordable

“Nothing matters.” That quote attributed to Ambrose Bierce may be true in some cases. It may be true to those who do not value the funding of Planned Parenthood. But something does matter. And that is the funding of the healthcare resource Planned Parenthood. Many do not understand the vital role Planned Parenthood plays in the lives of up and coming parents. Planned Parenthood has been operating and serving those in need of care in the United States and overseas for more than 40 years (“Planned Parenthood Global”). Planned Parenthood has vowed in their mission statement:

"Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare, providing birth control, pap smears, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and pregnancy tests to 5 million people each year. It has an annual budget of $800 million, 860 clinics, at least one representative in each state and enough members and staff that its reach into the grassroots is unmatched by any other entity fighting for reproductive freedom and women's equality" (Conniff, 2012).

Even if you disagree with abortion, it would be more beneficial to women to keep Planned Parenthood going. If someone had an infection you would get rid of it, not shoot the person. I, personally, am against abortion and I don't like that Planned Parenthood is performing them, but I can look past that and see that they are doing ten times more good than whatever the media is saying about them. Like Kristof said, "It's baffling that House Republicans are trying to eliminate a 45-year-old bipartisan initiative that is one of the country's anti-poverty successes - and also perhaps America's most successful anti-abortion initiatives." They provide family planning, often test for H.I.V., cure sexually transmitted infections, and screen for cervical and breast cancer. These are all good things that help women who, in many circumstances, couldn't normally

There is clearly huge controversy and strong opinions surrounding Planned Parenthood, but those who are against it do not truly know what they are fighting against. Only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood services are abortion, so what happens with the other 97 percent? Planned Parenthood offers basic wellness check-ups, birth control, STD and STI testing, and cancer screenings. “...the heart of what Planned Parenthood does has nothing to do with abortion” (Nixon). All of these services can be life changing and life saving. It’s easier to go to a clinic like Planned Parenthood vs a traditional doctor because patients can walk right in. Plus there are services offered at Planned Parenthood that are not offered at other health centers. General practice clinics are not equipped for STD screenings or family planning services like Planned Parenthood clinics are (Zernike). So many people are caught up in their feelings about abortion that they will not acknowledge how beneficial Planned Parenthood is for myriads of people.

The first argument for supporting Planned Parenthood is that it provides women with other health services and not just birth control or abortion. Without these services, women’s health will decline because many people can afford treatment. “Every year, Planned Parenthood’s doctors and nurses provide more than 3 million women with preventive health care, including nearly one million lifesaving screenings for cervical cancer, 830,000 breast exams, contraception to nearly 2.5 million patients and nearly four million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Literally, they are a trusted health care provider to millions of women (Whitman).” The statistic proves that Planned Parenthood does more than prevent unwanted pregnancy but also take on tasks care for women’s health.

“Women across the country were routinely dying in emergency rooms after being subject to abortions. I fear we are now coming full circle” (Morris). Here the point is raised that women who are refused abortions may go to extreme, illegal lengths to get them and endanger themselves. Shutting down planned Parenthood will not stop women will not stop women from getting abortions, it will just make them more dangerous (Morris). Planned Parenthood provides more than 4.2 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including more than 650,000 HIV tests (Parenthood). Keeping these clinics funded it will provide these services at a reasonable cost to all people. They also provide cancer screenings and other preventative health care that has proven to save lives.

Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that does research into and gives advice on contraception, family planning, and reproductive problems. Recently Planned Parenthood has had controversy for many pro-life members creating videos that pro-life members have altered to making many believe Planned Parenthood organizations harvest and sell fetal body parts, and give abortions when they women are too late during their pregnancy. While Planned Parenthood has showed how they are federally funded, where money comes from to support their organization, and how pro-life members falsely accused them of harvesting and selling fetal parts many are still concerned. Do to recent controversy that Planned Parenthood has harvested and sold fetal body parts many believe Planned Parenthood shouldn’t be supported but, considering the accommodating services offered by Planned Parenthood it should remain federally funded. Planned Parenthood should remain federally funded because of their accommodating services, promoting research and technology in reproductive health care,

The article “Editorial Defunding Planned Parenthood hurts the healthcare system,” states that Republicans, who dominate control in Congress, prioritize to defund Planned Parenthood. This proposal has been proposed previously, but it has not been able to surpass Obama’s veto. Since this is no longer the case, Republicans are now taking action to remove all federal funding such as Medicaid reimbursements. The proposed removal of funds is due to the fact that Planned Parenthood is associated with abortions, which are not highly supported but also ostracized by Republicans. However, Planned Parenthood provides many other reproductive services: “breast examinations, cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted

Business Insider’s Rebecca Harrington shares in “The Fight to Defund Planned Parenthood Has Very Little to Do with Abortions,” that “Planned Parenthood health centers serve 2.5 million people each year.” Sharmila Devi concurs in Anti-abortion groups target funding of Planned Parenthood.” :“Services for millions of women [can’t end] overnight [and] get a replacement in every community where they're needed.” In essence, those who currently rely on Planned Parenthood clinics would lose resources and services they previously had access to and may have relied heavily

Planned Parenthood should not be defunded because more than 2 million people would be without basic healthcare ("What It Really Means to "Defund" Planned Parenthood."). Although skeptics have the concern that Planned Parenthood is just an abortion clinic, they provide far more, including, family planning, contraceptives, STI testing, cancer screenings, and many other basic health services for women, men and youth, especially those below the poverty line.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that is critical for both men and women’s health care. Right now there are people trying to defund Planned Parenthood, and that would leave countless men and women without an excellent source of health care. Planned Parenthood provides a level of care that surpasses many other health care centers, and would be a devastating loss if defunded. Another thing that Planned Parenthood does is advocate for women rights, by doing so they provide abortions, but that should not be what defines the services of Planned Parenthood. They provide so much more than that, Planned Parenthood offers a wide range of tests and treatments, as well having someone there for anyone to talk to. Planned Parenthood should not be

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), better known as Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive healthcare and education in the United States and globally. The non-profit’s history is rooted in Brooklyn, New York, where Margaret Sanger and her sister Ethel Byrne opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S in 1916, later founding the American Birth Control League in 1921, which changed its name to Planned Parenthood in 1942 (Planned Parenthood, 2016). Moreover, Planned Parenthood was founded on the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams — no ceilings, no limits (Planned Parenthood, 2017).