Family Planning
Description
To enable persons who want to obtain family planning care to have access to services, Congress enacted the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-572), which added Title X, “Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs,” to the Public Health Service Act. Section 1001 of the Act (as amended) authorized grants “to assist in the establishment and operation of family planning projects which offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services (including natural family planning methods, infertility services and services to adolescents.” The mission of Title X is to provide individuals the information and means to exercise personal choice in determining the number and spacing of their children.
Eligibility
Female or male of childbearing age, including adolescents who may not yet be sexually active; and at risk of unintended pregnancy and in need of family planning/contraceptive services; Individuals who have undergone sterilization procedures are ineligible for Family Planning services, although their fertile partners may receive services;
Women seeking pregnancy; and
Documented income is at or below 250% of the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL), based on current sliding fee scale; and
Uninsured or underinsured; Clients may be considered “underinsured” if the private insurance company or Health Maintenance Organization does not cover family planning/contraceptive medical services (written verification required). The client is responsible for obtaining this information from the insurance company. An “underinsured” client may be considered eligible for Family Planning Program sponsored services (Title X) and may be offered benefit of the sliding fee scale, according to income and family size, if the income is below 250% Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
If a private insurance company or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) provides coverage for family planning medical services, contact the health department for further eligibility guidelines.
Clients with an income above 250% FPL are considered private pay clients and will be responsible for the full medical visit cost.