An “Abortion Ban” for Poor Women

Anti-choice politicians have pushed hundreds of different sham laws over the last few years, but all are designed to do just one thing: Make abortion care more difficult to obtain. But for the many women who cannot afford the money or time to get past the many obstructions, these laws essentially ban abortion.

A thought-provoking article and infographic over at Think Progress demonstrates how.

Using statistics from the Guttmacher Institute and Think Progress’s own research, the piece tracks costs that women may incur in Wisconsin. A new sham law aimed at shutting down abortion providers is currently under review in that state.

Factoring in travel and child care costs, lost time at work, and lack of Medicaid coverage, the article finds that the total cost of abortion care could add up to over $1100.

For a woman on a low income, these costs—which are directly related to harsh state abortion laws—are prohibitive.

Jane Collins, a University of Wisconsin professor who testified against the state’s latest sham law at a hearing this past summer notes in the piece:

“I think people have a hard time grasping that that $600 can be an absolute barrier. It can be the difference between having your civil rights and not having them. If you keep adding up the expenses of the extra miles, the need to pay for childcare, you’re going to reach a wall — a point when you’re not going to be able to pay.”

More than half of women across the country seeking abortion care cannot afford to pay for it on their own, according to the Guttmacher Institute.