Planned Parenthood Joins Health Care for America Now

Unprecedented Coalition Presses for Guaranteed Quality, Affordable Health Care

Washington, DC — Today, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) proudly joins Health Care for America Now (HCAN) to begin work with a broad coalition of partners to urge the next president and Congress to pass legislation in 2009 that guarantees quality, affordable health care for every American.

With more than four million activists, supporters, and volunteers, Planned Parenthood has a strong grassroots network that stretches nationwide,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “By partnering with our colleagues and demanding Health Care for America Now, Planned Parenthood is calling for quality, affordable care we can all count on and a renewed focus on preventive care.” 

For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has advocated a prevention first agenda by investing in prevention and family planning programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, and keep women healthy and safe. Ninety-seven percent of Planned Parenthood health care services are preventive, including contraception, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted infection testing.

Prevention works, yet 47 million Americans lack insurance and access to basic preventive care. Further, more than 17 million women need subsidized family planning services, and there is not enough funding to meet the need.

Compared to women with insurance, uninsured women consistently report lower rates of screening tests for many conditions, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis.

“Women should not have to run the risk of a preventable disease simply because they don’t have health insurance,” said Richards. “It’s unacceptable in the 21st century and the fix is simple: guaranteed quality, affordable health care for all.”

HCAN will launch its campaign with more than 100 national and state-based groups in Washington, DC, as well as in 52 other cities across the country. The organizations involved represent labor, community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, people of color, netroots activists, and think tanks, and Planned Parenthood is proud to be a leading member of this diverse group.

Health Care for America Now offers a bold new vision for health care reform: Americans can keep the private insurance they have, join a new private insurance plan, or choose a public health insurance plan. The campaign also calls for a government role in setting and enforcing rules on the insurance industry, which consistently charges whatever it wants, sets high deductibles, denies coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and drops coverage when people get sick.