Federal and state laws that restrict insurance coverage of abortion play a major role, too.
It was a relief for hershe’d seen firsthand how paying for an abortion isn’t always easy.
To Kalamaras, it just made sense that her insurance would cover the medical procedure.
Amy Drucker / Stocksy
Knowing that her procedure was covered gave her a sense of control during an emotional time, too.
“When I found out that I was pregnant, I was surprised, emotionally,” she says.
Then, she had a suction abortion under anesthesia.
Courtesy of the Guttmacher Institute
She later received a bill for her ultrasound.
In total, she estimates she paid around $150 out of pocket.
Both financially and emotionally, that proved beneficial.
Her doctor, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (MFM), gave a poor prognosis.
Benedicks' procedure wasn’t inexpensive.
The wording made things tricky for Benedicks.
The vague language of insurance policies can often put women obtaining abortions in a difficult position.
“What if my husband and I weren’t solidly middle class?
What if a $10,000 bill would ruin us instead of inconvenience us for a few years?
What if I had no option but to carry a dying or dead child?”
Abortions arent rare, and, as the above stories show, they arent inexpensive.
And the procedure comes with a price tag.
To the majority of women who get abortions, thats a sizable fee.
According to theGuttmacher Institute, 75 percent of abortion patients in 2014 were low income.
Yes, the majority of abortion patients are low incomebut that doesn’t mean they’re uninsured.
Still, 6 in 10 patients with private insurance plans paid for their abortion on their own.
Ten states also have laws restricting abortion coverage on all private insurance plans written in the state.
And 21 states restrict abortion coverage in the insurance plans of public employees.
Only17 stateshave separate policies that do allow Medicaid to pay for all or most medically necessary abortions.
you’ve got the option to view your state’s restrictions on insurance coverage of abortionhere.
Feeling motivated to act?
There are plenty of ways to make your voice heard.
SELF’s resources onfinding activist opportunitiesandgetting involved in policy decisionsare great places to start.
Other organizations can help families in need accessaffordable childcare,job training, andmuch-needed foodandhousehold supplies.
Related:
Watch: 7 Ways You Didn’t Know Obamacare Affected Your Daily Life
