I've been going to this Planned Parenthood for over a year now, and my birth control had been costing $40 every three months, as I'm on the Depo shot. Everytime I've been there they've tried to get me to register for health insurance but I'm not eligible as I'm not a resident of Pennsylvania. The time I was there three months ago for the shot, they tried to charge me $120 for "refusing to sign up for the insurance". Since I wouldn't bring necessary information, they wanted to charge me the full fee. I explained that I'm not eligible for it and they eventually brought it back down to $40, so I thought that was behind me. I went back yesterday to get the shot again and when it came time to check out they informed me it was $109. I asked why and they said it was because I didn't qualify for the insurance so I had to pay full. This was never discussed with me before I got the shot. It would be like going into a restaurant, ordering a meal that normally costs $10, then them bringing the bill and it being nearly $30. I don't understand how they can just raise my price without informing me first. It seems like quite shady dealings.

On June 21, 2010 I waited for over an hour at the Planned Parenthood in Garland, TX to be denied the birth control prescription I've had for over 10 years, (I'm in my 30s) and the doctor didn't even get to the exam (a standard annual pap smear). First, she asked me if I had any breakthrough bleeding and told me that the brand of birth control I'm currently using isn't very popular because it causes this problem. I've been on it since 1999 and told her I've never had a problem with it, and I like it. She spoke to me as if I were a child, talked down to me and proceeded to explain how birth control works. Then, she asked me about migraines. Basically, when I filled out the required health forms I checked a box that says I've had migraines (as in- yes, I've had a migraine before. I don't remember when the last one was, it's not a chronic condition) and was told that it's their policy not to prescribe Estrogen of any kind to people who get migraines. Additionally, she told me that her daughter gets migraines and that her daughter's neurologist said "no more Estrogen." After that anecdote I was furious and I asked directly if that was going to affect my getting the prescription I've had (which was the reason I made the appointment) and she said yes, that's their policy. So I voluntarily left without any services rendered. I went to Planned Parenthood because I was out of town due to a family emergency and I couldn't get to my doctor for an exam before my prescription ran out. Having been on the pill for several years I didn't want to interrupt my cycle. (My doctor does have my complete, current medical history and has never mentioned an Estrogen related migraine problem to me previously). It's not surprising there are so many unplanned pregnancies when their policy denies patients birth control based on a highly generalized heath form. That was my experience, and I am not convinced Planned Parenthood is beneficial to society at this point. Talk about bureaucracy- I shouldn't have had any problem getting an annual exam and a prescription for birth control, and I will be sure that any daughter I have in the future will never have to resort to going to a Planned Parenthood for assistance.

In the past four months, I have repeatedly attempted to get on birth control. Every appointment has been cancelled because the "clinician" has not been in. This last time, I wasn't even notified. In fact, I recieved a confirmation phone call about the appointment. I arranged for a baby sitter and drove all the way across town just to be told in a VERY rude manner that I would have to reschedule and that they have been notifiying people of such for two weeks. This is absolutely unacceptable. I thought Planned Parenthood was a respectable organization, dedicated to helping people. This office does not represent such an organization and something needs to be done.