Planned Parenthood Pros And Cons

There have been many ups and downs for Planned Parenthood. They have opened up opportunities for many and have also made many mistakes along the way including topics on birth control, abortions, and money. Birth control has always been an up and down controversy in America. In the 1900’s birth control, in the form of condoms, was around but no one was allowed to use it due to the Comstock Act. The Comstock Act made contraception illegal and any information about family planning and contraception was declared obscene. If the postal service found any in the mail they were allowed to confiscate the birth control. (Our History, Planned Parenthood) It wasn’t until 1938 involving a case with Sanger that a judge lifted the federal ban on birth control.

Planned Parenthood states that all tax dollars go to help men and women who can receive free screenings, testing, birth control and basic care that would be cheaper than going to a doctor’s office and having to pay a copay. Planned Parenthood also states that for more than 30 years federal tax dollars do not go to abortions in the United States except “in the rarest of cases.” (FAQ, Planned Parenthood) According to National Public Radio, Planned Parenthood receives $500 million a year in government funding. Funds for that money come from Medicaid and Title X both targeted for lower-income Americans. Medicaid makes up for 75% of that funding and states receive 90% federal reimbursement on Medicaid if used for family planning. (FAQ, Planned Parenthood) Referring back to abortions, no federal money under Title X is allowed to go to abortions but Medicaid does in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother. Of course, this does vary by state. (Title X, Planned Parenthood) If Planned Parenthood would be defunded it would save some money but it would keep many of the lower-income American from accessing medical care that they could otherwise not afford if they didn’t qualify for Medicaid or

Texas abandoned a proposal to expand family planning services to people making 250 percent of the poverty level, Nash says, after state officials learned they could not legally cut Planned Parenthood out of the program.” (Milligan, Planned Parenthood