Assessing the impact of copayment on family planning services: a preliminary analysis in California

A legislatively mandated copayment system for California state-funded family planning services was evaluated after the first six months of experience. Most clients reportedly could make their payments, but three times as many providers suggested lowering the fees as suggested raising them, and one-third reported a decrease in client donations. While the majority of providers did not report a decrease in clients, 22 per cent did so. For these drop-outs, it is estimated that the State would pay approximately $3 million in costs associated with unintended pregnancies, or one and a half times the amount cut from the Family Planning budget.