Research Reveals Gap Widening Between American Women’s Family Planning Needs and Government Response

New Estimates Show that One in Five Women of Reproductive Age Were Uninsured in 2003 —- A 10 Percent Increase Over 2001

Washington, DC — The Alan Guttmacher Institute today released research showing that the number of women in need of publicly funded family planning services and the number of women without insurance increased dramatically between 2001 and 2003. Meanwhile, spending on government programs dedicated to family planning, including Title X, has decreased or leveled off, and the burden of meeting women’s reproductive health needs has shifted to Medicaid.

“The research from The Alan Guttmacher Institute proves that the president’s policies put women, young people and families at risk,” said Karen Pearl, interim president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Publicly funded family planning services prevent 1.3 million unintended pregnancies and more than 600,000 abortions a year. If the president truly cared about women and families, he would not cut vital programs that aim to improve women’s health and prevent unintended pregnancies.”

The federal and state governments have a long history of subsidizing family planning services for low-income women and men. In recent years the largest source of this funding has been the joint federal-state Medicaid program, which provides health insurance coverage for millions of low-income women, men and children. Equally critical has been Title X, the federal program providing low-income women with quality, affordable family planning and basic reproductive health care. Together these programs have helped improve the health and well-being of millions of women and their families.

“Millions of Americans are in need of reproductive health services and cannot afford them,” stated Pearl. “This research makes it clear that Congress must not cap or cut Medicaid coverage that helps low-income women access basic health care services. If anything, Congress should increase funding for Title X and other important prevention programs.”

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation's largest and most trusted voluntary reproductive health organization. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child — and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 850 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year.