Most of us are never formally taught how to manage our own health care — but few life skills are more important. With so much in the news about the COVID-19 pandemic, all young people could use a few tips about how to take charge of their health, protect themselves, and learn how to advocate for themselves.
Patient privacy
Planned Parenthood wants our patients to feel safe knowing that we don’t share health information with anyone other than the patient (unless required by law if the patient has been harmed or is thinking of harming themselves or others). This means that teenagers can have privacy when they want to seek sexual and reproductive health services.
If you’re worried about privacy while using a parent’s health insurance, our staff may be able to use other programs to help pay for sexual and reproductive health services to keep these services private and confidential.
Set up time with a clinician
When a young person feels ready, they should set up some private time with a clinician. They can ask the clinician any questions about sexual health, mental health, high-risk behaviors, or any other questions they need to. Many young people will want to ask gender-related questions. This conversation will give a young person the opportunity to build trust and confidence on their own, without parents interfering.
A young person can ask a Planned Parenthood clinician specifically about sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control, abortion, and any other confidential questions they might have. They can have these conversations via telehealth (providing that they can have privacy, such as in a bathroom).
Does Planned Parenthood provide services to minors? Yes. Under California law, minors can access reproductive health care, obtain birth control, and receive abortion services without parental notification or parental consent. The one exception is that you must be at least 12 years old to get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) without a parent being notified.
Make (and cancel) your own appointments
Many doctors now have online sites where you can make your own appointments. But sometimes, you’ll need to actually call their office and enter your appointment time in a calendar (put the doctor’s name, number, and office address in your phone at the same time).
If you’re having a health crisis, let them know that on the phone so you can get immediate advice. If it’s after business hours, you’ll be talking to an answering service, and then a doctor may call right back. But in an emergency, you should always call 911.
If you can’t make it to a doctor appointment, make sure to actually contact them to cancel: You can be charged for an appointment when you ghost (though, Planned Parenthood does not charge for cancelled appointments). Plus, if you take the time to cancel, you’ll be freeing up an appointment slot for someone who needs it that day. You can reschedule your appointment when you call to cancel.
Understanding health insurance
Ask your parent or a trusted adult to explain co-pays (the amount a person pays out-of-pocket when they go to an appointment or pay for a prescription). Most people who come to Planned Parenthood for appointments don’t pay anything out-of-pocket.
Family PACT is a State-run program that provides family planning and related services to people who qualify. Signing up for Family PACT is confidential, and so is the care you get. This means that no one has to know about your family planning needs if you don’t want them to. If you are eligible for Family PACT, you can receive some family planning services at no cost. Family PACT covers the following services:
- Various birth control methods, including long-acting reversible contraceptives, emergency contraception, and permanent birth control
- Family planning counseling and education
- STD testing & treatment
- HIV testing
- Cervical cancer screening
- Limited fertility services
If you’re going to college, consider whether you’ll want the college’s health plan or whether you’ll waive it. Young adults generally get bumped off of their parents’ health insurance plan at age 26 — so have an idea for what you’ll do about health care at that time.
Crisis or emergency? Who to contact:
911 for a life-threatening emergency of any type, including a drug overdose.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-784-2433 if you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm or suicide.
The San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240 for any type of crisis that is not life-threatening.
The Safe Place hotline: 1-888-290-7233 if you need help with bullying, suicidal thoughts, homelessness, abuse, or neglect.
The Trevor Project hotline: 1-866-488-7386 if you need LGBTQ+ support or suicide prevention assistance related to gender identity, transgender issues, or sexuality.
Planned Parenthood: 1-888-743-7526 (business hours only) or Planned.org for information about birth control, the morning-after pill, relationship safety, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and abortions, and any other questions or concerns about sexual and reproductive health.
The National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-621-4000 for referrals to hospitals, soup kitchens, drug abuse centers, STD/HIV information and testing facilities, and free bus tickets home.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 for confidential crisis support related to rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, and incest.
The SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Hotline: 1-800-662-4357 for referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations that can help with addiction and other substance abuse disorders.
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