Free birth control now available in Lee and Collier County at Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida has begun offering free and low-cost birth control methods to patients visiting their Naples and Fort Myers Health Centers.
The program began May 1 and patients can choose from a one-year supply of birth control pills, injections, or vaginal rings, or long-acting reversible contraceptives, like IUDs and implants, which can last up to 12 years.
This program is especially important as Lee County has some of the highest teen birth rates in the state, even surpassing the national average, officials said.
“While all patients will be required to pay a $20 initial consultation fee, they will be able to receive a year’s supply of contraceptive pills, rings, and injections. Patients who opt for long-acting reversible birth control (such as IUDs and implants) will also receive the method itself free of charge but will be responsible for a placement fee of $200 or under, which includes the visit fee,” the release states.
The service pricing offered equates to an approximately 85-90% drop in patient out-of-pocket expenses for effective birth control.
The services are available thanks to grant support and donations, officials said.
“These services were made possible thanks to over $600,000 in local donor support from the affiliate’s recent, record-breaking, 50th Anniversary Celebration in Naples,” PPSWCF said in a release issued today. “The timing of this launch is serendipitous, as it fell on the one-year anniversary of Florida’s near-total six-week abortion ban. A fact that was not lost on PPSWCF leadership.”
“Last week’s somber anniversary underscores the importance of individuals being empowered to access health care and maintain control of our lives and bodies,” said PPSWCF Interim CEO Barbara A. Zdravecky in a prepared statement. “We are incredibly grateful to our many generous local donors for making this program possible.
“We’ve faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, including direct attacks from our lawmakers, and it’s only thanks to our dedicated supporters that we have been able to keep providing the care our patients rely on. While our government chips away at Floridians’ medical freedom, PPSWCF remains more committed than ever to ensuring that patients have access to sexual and reproductive health care options.”
Dr. Robyn Schickler, PPSWCF’s CMO, said family planning is a basic right.
“The ability to plan your own family and access reproductive services are some of the most impactful factors when it comes to building your future and achieving positive health outcomes,” Schickler said. “This program allows us to provide even more care throughout southwest Florida for those who have previously been cut off from it — something that becomes more crucial every day as health care continues to be criminalized.”
Program benefits are available for patients who do not have insurance or Medicaid and express financial need when they schedule their in-person appointment at the Naples or Fort Myers Health Centers; however, patients may opt for telehealth or a different health center if they are able to show proof of residency in either Lee or Collier County.
Appointments may be made at (941) 567-3800 or schedule online at PPSWCF.org. Patients must ask about the “Contraceptive Access Grant” when scheduling or checking in for their appointment. More information can be found here.
About Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Inc:
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Inc., an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. began operations in 1966 and provides sexual and reproductive health care services and comprehensive sexuality education. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida provides expert, affordable, and confidential health care to 45,000 patients through health centers in Fort Myers, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Naples, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tampa, as well as through telehealth.
The mission of Planned Parenthood is to “ensure the right of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing medical services, education, and advocacy. For more than 100 years, Planned Parenthood has been one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, respectful sexual and reproductive health care and the nation’s largest provider of sex education.”