Roe promises a world in which every woman is able to make her own decisions about if and when she will have a child, and do so free of danger, fear, and stigma. Legalizing abortion was an important step toward making this world a possibility. But laws passed after Roe v. Wade have prevented this from becoming reality for the many thousands of women each year who cannot afford to pay for abortion care.

A first trimester abortion often costs more than a family living in poverty lives on in a month. Poor women seeking abortions must choose between their medical care and other basic life necessities such as food, rent, and clothing for themselves and their families. This is a “choice” no one should be forced to make.

The Medicaid program is supposed to provide health care for people who cannot otherwise afford it. However, it falls short when it comes to reproductive health care. There is virtually no federal assistance to help low-income women access abortion, because of the Hyde Amendment. First passed by Congress in 1976, Hyde prohibits federal funding for abortion. The only exceptions are for rape, incest, and when the woman’s life is in danger. Thirty three states have similar laws.

Renewed every year since 1976, the Hyde Amendment denies women their basic rights. The Hyde Amendment and state bans on abortion funding most severely affect poor women, women of color and young women, who represent the majority of women on Medicaid. Overturning this Amendment is a necessary part of the fight for reproductive justice.