Marci Benitez is 23 and single. But she’s not dead, and despite already having two children, she enjoys the occasional night out. Her ex-husband, Juan, is in prison in upstate New York, leaving Marci with busy days at work and lonely nights.
To save money, Marci moved into her mom’s house in Brooklyn. Marci works at a fabric production center in Queens and night is set aside for taking classes. She wants to become a Certified Nurse Assistant and she figures in two years she can reach her goal.
Money is tight, and niceties are difficult to come by. Understanding she can’t afford another child, Marci had to find a way to get free birth control.
Birth control can be obtained at health centers, family planning clinics or from your health care provider. Health centers also provide condoms and teens don’t require permission to get birth control. Under the Affordable Care Act, (ACA), health insurance plans are required to cover birth control with no co-pay.
While services may change under the Trump administration, activists are hoping to keep the status quo. It is more affordable to provide birth control at no cost than it is to help raise and feed unplanned children.
FPBP
Family Planning Benefit Program is a New York State Medicaid program providing family planning, as well as other benefits to individuals and families with incomes up to 200-percent of the federal poverty level. For eligible residents, FPBP covers the cost of birth control, STD testing, gynecological cal exams and other services. All treatments are provided without co-pays, monthly payments or deductibles.
What is Covered?
All types of birth control
- Emergency contraception and follow-up
- Pregnancy testing and counseling*
- Screening cervical cancer*
- Screening for urinary tract or female-related infections*
- PAP tests*
- Gynecological exams*
- Male and female sterilization
- STI testing and treatment*
- HIV testing and counseling*
*when part of a family planning visit
Who Qualifies?
- Anyone over ten years old
- American citizens
- New York State residents
- Individuals and families with incomes up to 200-percent of the federal poverty level
Everyone under 21-years can qualify regardless of their parent’s income.
Eligibility Determination
The staff of any health clinic should be able to help determine your eligibility. To learn more, visit STD Testing NYC.
White Plains and Yonkers residents have a designated FPBP Coordinator for persons between 10 and 21-years of age.
All applications are confidential as well as the services provided