THE GAPS & BARRIERS TO PROVIDING
ABORTION ACCESS AND CARE
Abortion funds provide pregnant people with practical support (i.e. travel, lodging, childcare, translation services) so that accessing abortion is less challenging.
They are also on the frontlines of filling the financial gaps that government and private insurance companies have failed to address for decades due to state abortion bans, local ordinances and federal restrictions such as the Hyde Amendment.
But as the data shows, they are underresourced at a time where they are needed the most.
Click below for printable PDF of all graphics found in the Abortion Funds Track of this Roadmap:
WHAT IS MAKING THE WORK OF ABORTION FUNDS HARDER?
Between 2018-2020, requests for abortion support increased by 73% and calls funded increased by 84%.
Source: National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)
“The median cost of an abortion at ten weeks is $560 and can be thousands later in pregnancy. Meanwhile, nearly 1/3 of adults cannot afford a $400 emergency expense. Nearly 1 in 4 adults skipped medical care in 2020 due to an inability to pay.
Source: Cowles, Charlotte. “How Much Does an Abortion Cost? Learn the Facts” The Cut. November 20, 2018. URL: https://www.thecut.com/2018/11/how-much-does-an-abortion-cost.html
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Women denied abortions experienced a 78% increase in past due debt and are 3x more likely to fall below the federal poverty line.
Source:
Three-fourths of abortion patients were low income—49% living at less than the federal poverty level, and 26% living at 100–199% of the poverty level.
Source:
In 2021 alone, 108 abortion restrictions were enacted in 19 states
26 states have trigger laws in place if Roe is overturned by the Supreme Court
Abortion funds received less than 2% ($34 million) of all reproductive rights funding between 2015-2019. (1.7 billion total)
Faced with increasing state restrictions, fewer clinics and increased demand, the future of abortion funds are in danger without continued support.
Source: Obedin-Maliver J, Goldsmith ES, Stewart L, et al. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender–Related Content in Undergraduate Medical Education. JAMA. 2011;306(9):971–977. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1255
According to an NCRP analysis of Candid data, an increase equal to even 1% of the $1.7 billion funding generated for reproductive rights would generate an additional $17.5 million for frontline abortion funds to provide to those seeking care.