Submitted by Armen Hareyan on May 15th, 2007
Family Planning Insurance Coverage
Many Alabama women are not aware that they qualify for free family planning insurance coverage.
Plan first is a special type of insurance coverage designed to cover family planning services. To qualify, a woman must be 19 through 44 years of age, live in Alabama, be a U.S. citizen or in this country legally, have not had surgery to prevent pregnancy, and have a household income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Plan first enrolled providers are located throughout the state and are av ailable from clinics,
county health departments, private physicians' offices, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants.
Services offered by Plan first include the following:
An annual family planning exam that includes a pap smear and a breast exam
Lab work
Various medically prescribed family planning methods such as pills and injections
Tubes tied for women 21 years of age or older
Special help from a nurse or a social worker to support the woman's effort to continue with her personal pregnancy spacing plan
"With family planning, mothers and babies have a better chance of being healthy and parents can provide for their children both financially and emotionally," said Dr. Grace Thomas, medical director of Women's Health of the Bureau of Family Health Services. "We want to assist in the development and practice of intentional behavior, whether it is a choice to delay or avoid pregnancy or to conceive. This is what family planning is all about."
A large portion of Alabama's women of childbearing age will meet the income criteria. A woman from a family of three may have an annual income of up to $22,836 and qualify for Plan first. Applications for Plan first are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health, county health departments, and providers of services to pregnant women. Women will want to bring proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate and proof of identity as shown by government-issued card such as a driver's license.
Source:
Alabama Department of Public Health 
Comments
#1 RE: Anonymous Poster from 01/29/2009
You're an idiot.. the last time I checked family planning was a voluntary program. Get off you self-righteous high horse and stay out of the way of individuals who may not want to have children. Don't mistake my full support for abstinence but let's not pretend this is the early 1900s. Women and young girls have sex and a result of sex are babies. Some women just are not willing to sacrifice one to avoid the other so instead of having ill prepared and selfish women having babies they cannot and do not want to care for.. I say let em take their pills and/or get abortions. What gives you or I the right to judge? You know what they say ..those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones! I highly doubt you are the poster child for morality.
#2 No
Women should remain abstinent if not ready for children.What gives anyone the right to kill unborn children off by abortion and or birth control.Yes, birth control is an early abortificant.As a woman I urge women to push for more government assisstance for thier families not family planning.Family Planning=Government population control.Get the facts before you fall for the pro-choice lies.
#3 Plan First Is An Insurance Program That Helps Alabama Women
Hi
This is a very good step which is taken by family planning insurance person to give insurance to Alabama women this will help them to lead there life in a happy manner .
But there are some rules also that these women should be the citizens of USA and there annual income should be up to $22,836 toqualify for this insurance plan.