FAMILY PLANNING: Controversial Indiana plan offers health care for holidays

Published: November 30, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS — At the Planned Parenthood of Indiana, ‘tis the season of giving health care and contraception. But it’s a sentiment that opponents of abortion and artificial birth control say denigrates the holiday season. The network of 35 clinics across the state announced it is offering holiday vouchers for basic health care services "or the recipient’s choice of birth control method.”

The organization decided to offer the vouchers because so many people are uninsured or are putting off health care because of prohibitive costs, said Betty Cockrum, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana. Nearly 800,000 Indiana residents don’t have health insurance, she said.

Cockrum said the vouchers were about giving potentially lifesaving care.

"Avoiding unintended pregnancy is the best way to reduce abortion” rates, Cockrum said.

Opponents of abortion said Planned Parenthood was making a "mockery” of the holiday season.

"The tragedy is that almost 6,000 fewer children will be celebrating a first Christmas this year because they were aborted in Planned Parenthood’s Indiana clinics,” said Mike Fichter with Indiana Right to Life.

"They deserve coal in their stocking, not money for lethal gift certificates,” said Sister Diane Carollo, director of the Office for Pro-Life Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Planned Parenthood’s annual exams for women, which include Pap tests and breast exams, typically cost $58. The vouchers can be used for the exams, but also for insurance copays and for medication.

Associated press

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