Do you know a woman who works for the federal government or serves in the military? Did you know that anti-choice politicians have made it harder for her to get abortion care? Here’s what’s happening: Women who depend on the government for their basic health care don’t have the same choices as other women.
The Challenge
Every year, Congress passes a set of bills that fund government programs.
Anti-choice politicians use these bills to restrict access to abortion services for women who depend on the federal government for their health care.
Here's a list of women who are affected:
- Military personnel and their families
- Women who work for the federal government
- Women who rely on Medicaid and Medicare for their health-care coverage
- Peace Corps volunteers
- Native-American women
- Women in federal prisons
For example, women in the armed forces can not get abortion care at military hospitals. They aren't even allowed to pay with their own money. This situation is especially bad for women serving overseas. Can you imagine if a woman is stationed in a country where abortion is illegal?
Our Solution
Abortion care is a vital component of women's reproductive health. We work hard to oppose the discriminatory laws that deny women their right to choose.
It's time to change bad laws that are barriers for women. Women who work for the government or serve in the military should not lose health-related choices.
Summary of State and Federal Laws
21 states have laws that prohibit some or all state employees or organizations that receive state funds from providing, counseling, or referring women for abortion services: AL, AR, AZ, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA, WI.
- North Dakota's prohibition has been held partially unconstitutional.
7 states have codified a woman's right to choose, making the protections of Roe v. Wade part of state law: CA, CT, HI, ME, MD, NV, WA.
- 3 states enacted these measures by ballot initiative: MD, NV, WA.
27 states prohibit insurance plans for public employees and/or private-sector individuals from covering abortion services: AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WI. Of these:
- 9 states prohibit abortion coverage in the entire private insurance market: ID, KS, KY, MO, NE, ND, OK, RI, UT.
- Rhode Island has two separate insurance-prohibition laws. Courts have declared one unconstitutional and unenforceable and the other partially unconstitional and unenforceable.
- 18 states expressly prohibit abortion coverage in state insurance exchanges: AL, AZ, FL, ID, IN, KS, LA, MS, MO, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WI.
- 15 states prohibit abortion coverage for public employees: AZ, AR, CO, IL, KS, KY, MA, MS, NE, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA.
- Massachusetts’ insurance prohibition for state employees applies only to coverage for certain procedures after viability.
16 states' constitutions provide greater protection of a woman's right to choose than does the federal Constitution: AK, AZ, CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MN, MT, NJ, NM, OR, TN, VT, WV.
