U.S. Abortions Becoming Increasingly Financially Inaccesible Social Justice Studies at W&J: A New

STEVIE GRAY

Red & Black Contributor

A continuous stream of anti-abortion policies has contributed to increasing financial obstacles to receiving safe medical procedures, including legislation such as Senate Bill 8 (S.B. 8) in Texas. S. B. 8 outlaws abortion procedures after cardiac activity is detected, which, for many patients, has been a devastating blow due to the significant amount of time that may pass before someone realizes they’re pregnant as well as the time it takes to obtain an abortion.

Private insurance policies often do not cover abortion procedures, requiring that patients pay at least partially out of pocket, particularly in Texas. As such, many are unable to afford to immediately obtain an abortion and are forced to wait weeks or months in order to afford treatment. Thousands of Texans have been forced to travel out-of-state to obtain abortions and that number will only grow as voluntary financial support wavers or laws become stricter.

S.B. 8 and similar legislation across the nation contributes to growing health disparities; It draws firm lines across the boundaries of socioeconomic class, making it notably difficult if not outright impossible for people to obtain the care they need for the sake of their own health as well as that of others. Even prior to S.B. 8, high levels of financial hardships and patients traveling out of state to obtain abortions were reported, and this number has risen with the enforcement of this law. According to The New York Times, a large influx of monetary donations to abortion clinics and funds has been critical for the ability of patients to seek out medical care in response to legal adversity. This reliance on public fundraising for essential medical care is alarming yet exists in a normalized state of being within the United States.

Increasing accessibility of medical care would require blatant political and economic support. In addition to decreasing out-of-pocket expenditures, an expansion of private health insurance policies as well as Medicaid would be necessary to ensure that medical care is accessible for everyone. While primarily thought of as an issue of public health, this issue extends beyond pregnancies to encompass broader economic concerns as well due to fluctuating incomes, spending and employment.