“I don't think people fully understand the impact,” said Stephanie Lorraine Pineiro, executive director of Florida Access Network, one of the Sunshine State's abortion funds. These nonprofit organizations help pregnant people pay for abortions. “We're thinking about collateral damage. People's lives are going to be affected.”
A ban in just one state would have strained the country's fragile network of abortion funds. But these two laws taken together may be too much to bear. Contributions to these funds have steadily declined after a spike in June 2022, a temporary result of the Supreme Court's unpopular decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and suspend the federal right to abortion. ing.
About 11,500 abortions were performed in Arizona in 2022, the most recent year for which complete data is available from the state health department. While the numbers are small, officials at Arizona's only abortion fund say they won't be able to support sending that many people across state lines.
“Where can we get the money for out-of-state abortions?” asked Eloisa Lopez, executive director of the Arizona Abortion Fund. “That wouldn't be possible for people.”
Regional influences in the South are particularly important. Abortion is currently legal in Florida, where there are more than 60 clinics, until the 15th week of pregnancy. While less generous than what Roe guaranteed, it is still the most generous of the state's neighbors. Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia have almost completely banned the procedure. It is legal up to 6 weeks of pregnancy in Georgia and South Carolina, and up to 12 weeks of pregnancy in North Carolina. As a result, Sunshine State clinics have been flooded with pregnant women, recording the largest increase in surgeries since Roe's fall from power.
Arizona never became a similar regional destination. Arizona previously had a 15-week restriction in place for him, but its laws were stricter than in surrounding states. But doctors in the state said that in the post-Roe situation, they are also seeing patients from out of state, particularly those from Texas who were unable to get early appointments in states closer to their home.
Despite the ban that went into effect since Roe v. Wade's reversal, multiple analyzes show that the number of abortions has remained flat. As a result, patients can now order abortion pills by mail or travel relatively short distances across state lines. Care.
But both Florida and Arizona's abortion laws could overturn that. Representatives for abortion funds in both states said they do not cover the costs of people ordering abortion pills by mail from other states, citing potential legal risks. And the trips they support will likely be longer and more expensive.
In Florida, doctors are preparing to send patients to Virginia, the last state in the South to allow abortions, as well as Washington, D.C., and Illinois. Arizonans can travel to a handful of states, including Nevada, Colorado, California and New Mexico, but clinics are already strained by an increase in patients from states such as Texas and Oklahoma.
In Arizona, Lopez estimated that out-of-state travel can cost patients $1,500 to $2,000. She says it's impossible to spend that much money on every Arizonan who might need financial help to leave the state.
And as more patients travel further afield, which can involve more expensive flights, extra gas or more hotel nights, abortion fund representatives say are concerned that their travel budgets will not be as affordable as they used to be.
“Money allocated for travel will be used up much faster because more people will have to travel further,” Lorraine Piniello said.
Her foundation has already scaled back operations. The Florida Access Network provided funding for people to travel to Florida for surgery. In response to increased financial pressures, it now only funds Floridians traveling for care. This remains an important issue, and in 2023, the foundation spent $400,000 to support 1,500 people.
Officials at other funds said they would not be able to help everyone who asks for assistance.
“It's absolutely possible that our call volume will reach a point where we have to be very strict about how much money we can fund each caller, otherwise we will… We may potentially have to close lines periodically.” Member of Tampa Bay Abortion Fund. “Right now, it's not very promising.”
Even groups in cities expected to see an influx of abortion patients (such as Chicago and Washington, D.C., which are currently the closest legal options for Floridians) say they don't believe they can meet the growing demand. ing.
“In almost five years, since the summer of 2019, we haven't turned down anyone's calls,” said Megan Jaffo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “This is pushing us to the brink.”
