Public Funding for Abortion

For forty years, politicians have used the Hyde Amendment to withhold Medicaid coverage for abortion from eligible women. 

Medicaid coverage can mean the difference between getting abortion care and being denied. The Hyde Amendment forces many women to divert money meant for living expenses — like food, rent, utilities and bills — to pay for an abortion. It makes it less possible for a low-income woman to access her health care options and exercise her constitutionally protected right to an abortion.

The federal ban is not permanent law. Every year, Congress has the chance to lift the Hyde Amendment or Congress could support the Each Woman Act to provide equal access to abortion care coverage. 

Despite the federal ban in 17 states qualified women can used Medicaid to cover the cost of an abortion. 

Learn more about the Hyde Amendment

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Alabama

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Alaska

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Alaska v. Planned Parenthood, 28 P.3d 904 (Alaska 2001).

Arizona

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Simat Corp. v. Ariz. Health Care Cost Containment Sys., 56 P.3d 28 (Ariz. Oct. 22, 2002).

Arkansas

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

California

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Committee to Defend Reprod. Rights v. Myers, 625 P.2d 779 (Cal. 1981).

Colorado

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Connecticut

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Doe v. Maher, 515 A.2d 134 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1986).

Delaware

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Florida

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Georgia

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Hawaii

Voluntarily covers abortion in state Medicaid program

Idaho

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Illinois

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Doe v. Wright, No. 91 CH 1958 (Ill. Cir. Ct. Dec. 2, 1994).

Indiana

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Iowa

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Kansas

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Kentucky

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Louisiana

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Maine

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Maryland

Voluntarily covers abortion in state Medicaid program

Massachusetts

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Moe v. Sec’y of Admin. & Fin., 417 N.E.2d 387 (Mass. 1981).

Michigan

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Minnesota

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Women of Minn. v. Gomez, 542 N.W.2d 17 (Minn. 1995).

Mississippi

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Missouri

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Montana

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Jeannette R. v. Ellery, No. BDV-94-811 (Mont. Dist. Ct. May 19, 1995).

Nebraska

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Nevada

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

New Hampshire

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

New Jersey

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Right to Choose v. Byrne, 450 A.2d 925 (N.J. 1982).

New Mexico

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See New Mexico Right to Choose/NARAL v. Johnson, 975 P.2d 841 (N.M. 1998).

New York

Voluntarily covers abortion in state Medicaid program

Through its Medicaid program, New York funds medically necessary abortions for women whose family incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty level but denies abortion funding to women with family incomes between 100 and 185% of the poverty level. These women are eligible, however, to receive all other pregnancy-related services. See Hope v. Perales, 634 N.E.2d 183 (N.Y. 1994).

North Carolina

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

North Dakota

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Ohio

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Oklahoma

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Oregon

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Planned Parenthood Ass’n v. Dep’t of Human Resources, 663 P.2d 1247 (Or. Ct. App. 1983), aff’d onstatutory grounds,687 P.2d 785 (Or. 1984).

Pennsylvania

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Rhode Island

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

South Carolina

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

South Dakota

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Tennessee

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Texas

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Utah

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Vermont

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Doe v. Celani,No. S81-84CnC (Vt. Super. Ct. May 26, 1986).

Virginia

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Washington State

Voluntarily covers abortion in state Medicaid program

West Virginia

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Women’s Health Ctr. v. Panepinto,446 S.E.2d 658 (W. Va. 1993).

Wisconsin

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Wyoming

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

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