Restrictions on Low-Income Women's Access to Abortion

North Carolina prohibits funding for abortion for women eligible for state medical assistance for general health care unless the procedure is necessary to preserve the life of a woman endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.  Dep't of Health & Human Servs., Div. of Med. Assistance, Inpatient Hospital Servs., (Nov. 1999), at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/hospital/5.pdf.

A woman who is not eligible for Medicaid and whose income is below the federal poverty level may obtain funds from the North Carolina State Abortion Fund to pay for an abortion only if the procedure is necessary to preserve her life or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.  H.B. 397, 2003 Gen. Assem., 1st Sess. (N.C. 2003).

A court held that this restriction is constitutional under the North Carolina Constitution.  Rosie J. v. N.C. Dep't of Human Res., 491 S.E.2d 535 (N.C. 1997).