New York, NY – A new study led by NYU Silver School of Social Work PhD candidate Ortal Wasser finding that many abortion patients incur ‘catastrophic’ expenses has captured widespread media attention. Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the study of 675 U.S. patients seeking an abortion before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision revealed that 42% were estimated to incur abortion-related catastrophic health expenses (CHEs). CHE’s are defined as healthcare costs exceeding a substantial portion of one’s income and resulting in financial hardship.
Wasser and her co-authors also found that approximately twice as many patients traveling out-of-state for abortion care were likely to incur CHEs (65%) versus those seeking in-state care (32%). They speculate that the financial burdens of abortion seeking have likely worsened since the Dobbs decision spurred more people to cross state lines to reach abortion care.
“The study’s finding of a high rate of abortion-related CHE’s, particularly among people who traveled out of state, suggests a need for expanded insurance coverage for abortion care, regardless of state of residence,” the authors wrote. They noted that widespread restrictions on insurance coverage of abortion in the U.S. mean most individuals have to pay out of pocket for the procedure. Moreover, additional non–health care costs such as transportation, accommodation, and missed work, are not covered by insurance.
Among the media outlets that picked up this important story, with implications for abortion policy, are:
U.S. News & World Report: Women Can Incur 'Catastrophic' Bills for Out-of-State Abortions, Study Finds
UPI: Study: Women might incur 'catastrophic' bills for out-of-state abortions
HealthDay: Women Can Incur 'Catastrophic' Bills for Out-of-State Abortions, Study Finds
Healio: Abortion-related catastrophic health expenditures tied to adverse mental health symptoms
Medical Express: Women can incur 'catastrophic' bills for out-of-state abortions, study finds
About NYU Silver School of Social Work
Founded in 1960 and renowned for a strong tradition of excellence in direct social work practice and dedication to social justice, NYU Silver has provided rigorous training to more than 20,000 social work practitioners and leaders in every area of the field, making it the leading destination for students who want to become innovative practitioners at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice. The School has four campuses in the heart of New York City, Rockland County, Westchester County, and Shanghai.