BASIC NEEDS
I can’t afford STI testing.
In 2018, there were reported 1.8 million cases of chlamydia, 583,405 cases of gonorrhea, 115,045 cases of syphilis. There were also 1,306 cases of syphillis among newborns. Left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases can cause both temporary and life-long health complications— including inability to get pregnant and pregnancy complications. Getting tested and treated for STIs is a vital part of your healthcare, and there are affordable options for those who may be without insurance or cannot pay for healthcare.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs)
There are over 13,500 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health centers (RHCs) available in the United States. Both types of centers are required by federal law to provide low cost healthcare, regardless of a client’s ability to pay or their health insurance policies to medically underserved areas (MUA) of the country. They accept Medicaid and Medicare insurance plans, and they cannot turn away a client who is unable to pay for services. FQHCs must provide services on a sliding fee scale with varying discounts available (based on patient family size and income in accordance with Federal poverty guidelines). And each center is required to provide comprehensive primary and preventative care services. FQHCs and RHCs receive federal funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. By law, they cannot provide abortion services.
You can search for affordable local healthcare options at:
HRSA Data Warehouse: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Pregnancy Centers
OPTIONLINE
Phone: (800) 712-HELP
Text: 313131
OptionLine provides free and confidential counseling as well as accurate information about pregnancy and pregnancy options. There are over 3,000 pregnancy resource centers across the country. Find a pregnancy resource center near you by entering your zipcode at www.optionline.org. Please note: Many pregnancy centers will offer FREE STI testing. Call your local centers to ask about available services.