Planned Parenthood

Two people asked us:

hey, is it possible for a newly sexually active teen with unsupportive parents to get free birth control (specifically nexplanon for me) without them knowing? i want to be safe but i don’t know how to navigate this around my parents

Hi, I’m 25 yrs old & would like to keep this private. My family is conservative &keep tabs on my record. I don’t want them to know 1) I’m sexually active, and 2) I want to get a Pap smear and birth control. I am under my parent’s insurance. If I attend planned parenthood & pay out of pocket would I be able to do so without having that record connected to my health insurance? Or is there a way to hide these documents from my clinical record? I’m sorry if this is a stupid question!

We get this question a lot, and we wish that everyone had supportive families they could talk with about sexual health. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for everyone. But don’t worry, you’ve got options.

Many states have special laws that protect your right to get sexual health services (like birth control, Pap tests, and STD tests) privately, even if you’re under 18. But laws are different in every state. There are certain places where the doctor’s office can contact your parent or guardian if you’re under 18. The best way to find out what’s up where you live is to call your doctor’s office, community health clinic, or local Planned Parenthood health center to ask about their privacy policies.

If you’re on someone else’s health insurance and use it to pay for your appointment or prescriptions, they might get a letter in the mail from your insurance company that says where you went and what services you got. You can call your insurance company to find out about their privacy policies (the number is usually on the back of your insurance card). You can also ask your nurse or doctor for help figuring out your insurance privacy policies. In some instances, the insurance company may be able to work with you to make sure that your information stays private.

A few states have special programs that allow young people to get their own private health insurance plan for things like birth control and STD services. And sometimes, you can get free or low cost sexual health care without using your family’s insurance. Your local Planned Parenthood health center can help you figure out if these are options for you.

It’s totally normal to be nervous talking about this stuff with your parents or guardians. If you ever decide to bring it up, here are some tips on talking with them about sex.

If you feel that asking questions about sex will put you in danger, it’s okay to not have the conversation with them at all. If you don’t feel like you can rely on your parent or guardian, talk with another adult you know is trustworthy — like an older family member, counselor, teacher, or school nurse. And you can always call your local Planned Parenthood health center to get honest, private information about birth control and sexual health.

Oh, and high fives to you both for being responsible and taking charge of your sexual health!

-Kendall at Planned Parenthood