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Fast Facts
Restrictions on Low-Income Women's Access to Abortion
Why is access to abortion care important for low-income women's health? |
All women should have access to reproductive health care regardless of their economic status, but restrictions on funding make abortion services an unavailable choice for many women. Banning public funding inserts politicians into the doctor-patient relationship and puts women's health in danger by severely limiting reproductive health options for those who rely on the government for their health care. |
CURRENT STATE LAWS33 states and the District of Columbia restrict low-income women’s access to abortion: AL, AR, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY.
17 states provide low-income women access to abortion: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, IL, MD, MA, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA, WV. |
CURRENT FEDERAL LAWSSeveral federal laws, most notably the Hyde amendment, bar access to abortion care for most low-income women who rely on the federal government for their health care, with exceptions only to preserve the woman's life or if the pregnancy results from rape or incest. Women affected by these bans include recipients of Medicaid, Medicare, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Indian Health Service clients, and clients of the District of Columbia's public health care programs. |
2007 STATE LEGISLATION6 states considered 15 measures that would prohibit or severely restrict the use of public funds for abortion services: AK, MN, NJ, NY, TN, WV.
- Alaska enacted two measures restricting low-income women's access to abortion. However, these prohibitions have been deemed unenforceable by the Attorney General in light of state precedent.
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2007 FEDERAL LEGISLATIONMost of the federal funding bans on abortion services for low-income women described above are extended annually by Congress. |
| For a map of all states with Restrictions on Low-Income Women's Access to Abortion - click here. | |
