How abortion funds help provide critical support in a post-Roe world

How abortion funds help provide critical support in a post-Roe world

When the Supreme Court overturned the landmarkRoe v. calfcase in June, which effectively dismantled the federally protected right to abortion, sparked a critical gap in health services available to individuals across the country.

In the wake of the decision, states from coast to coast imposed abortion bans or severely limited the procedure to the earliest weeks of pregnancy or extreme emergencies. As has been widely reported, this vacuum in services means that those seeking an abortion may no longer have access to local or affordable care.

What may not be as well known, however, is that there are resources, organizations, and special funds that can help individuals who have difficulty accessing abortion services. Organizations such as The Brigid Alliance; Access Reproductive Care-Southeast and Indigenous Women Rising provide critical support to those in need, including financial support for travel to locations where abortions are available.

“Abortion funds are really trying to make these really huge practical barriers less overwhelming for people,” said Eleanor Drey, MD, the medical director of the Women’s Options Center at San Francisco General HospitalThe health.

These so-called abortion funds have always played an important role in providing care for people - even beforeroeoverturned and even in progressive states that have historically supported abortion. But in recent years the need has become even greater as abortion clinics in more restrictive states are forced to close, leading to so-called "abortion deserts."

According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco. The same report that was issued before the Supreme Court struck downRoe v. calfpredicted that if such a decision were to pass, it would likely mean the closure of 202 clinics in the 26 states willing to ban or severely restrict abortion.

“Abortion funds will be more important than ever given these government restrictions and bans,” said Dr. Drey.

Here's a closer look at some of the abortion funds that provide practical support and funding to people seeking an abortion, including money for travel expenses.

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Indigenous women's uprising

Based in New Mexico, this fund is available to local, undocumented, indigenous people across the country. “Anyone who needs money or needs to travel,” said Lindsay Rodriguez, communications director for the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF).The health. “This is a very specific community that often doesn’t have the resources they need to have an abortion.”

Indigenous Women Rising has a particular focus on addressing each patient's specific needs and being nimble and creative to help each person get what they need, Rodriguez said.

Those in need of services or support can apply by completing an online form. The application includes details about your pregnancy, your tribe or indigenous community, and contact information.

The Brigid Alliance

The Brigid Alliance funds transportation, accommodation, meals and child care. They also help patients organize abortion logistics and provide trauma-informed support. The alliance is known for helping with all the end-to-end costs associated with an abortion - from booking hotel costs to travel to child care. “They help people all over the country get where they need to go,” Rodriguez said.

To apply for funding from The Brigid Alliance, contact one of the clinics they work with, located in Washington DC, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey and Colorado. The partner clinics will make a transfer to the fund on your behalf. A coordinator will then contact you within 24 to 48 hours to discuss next steps.

The alliance also recommends contacting the National Network of Abortion Funds, where more information about local abortion funds is available. The National Abortion Federation, meanwhile, offers assistance in securing an abortion appointment as well as the resources necessary for the procedure itself.

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Access Reproductive Care-Southeast

Georgia-based Access Reproductive Care-Southeast covers travel, procedures, support and related logistics for people seeking an abortion in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"Many Southern states are enacting such strict regulations right now. It [ARC] provides information and support to people throughout the South," Rodriguez said.

Patients interested in seeking support from ARC-Southeast can call the organization's health hotline or submit an online support request.

The Chicago Abortion Fund

The Chicago Abortion Fund provides patients with logistical and emotional support and helps pay for the procedure itself and travel expenses. This fund often helps people in the Midwest – primarily Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska – who need to travel to Illinois to receive an abortion. In fact, in the first three months of 2022, 80% of the patients served by this fund were from abroad. The Chicago Abortion Fund helps people of all ages and does not require parental notification for minors seeking abortion services.

“The Midwest is also an area where a lot of these laws are passed, and Illinois is a big supporter of all of the surrounding states,” Rodriguez said.

To apply for assistance from the Chicago Abortion Fund, call (312) 663-0338 and provide your contact information, appointment date, clinic name and location, zip code and status of your pregnancy. All information is completely confidential.

National Abortion Federation

The National Abortion Federation has several dedicated patient assistance funds designed to help financially support the cost of the procedure and travel expenses so that patients across the country have access to safe, legal abortions. For example, the Rachel Falls Patient Assistance Fund helps pregnant women get an abortion, and the Dr. Tiller Patient Assistance Fund covers travel-related expenses – including flights, hotels and meals.

“This fund, named for the late Dr. George Tiller, a prominent abortion provider and NAF member who was murdered by an anti-abortion activist in church in 2009, helps us ensure that as many people as possible receive the reproductive care they need, regardless of gender identity, zip code, race or immigration status,” said Melissa Fowler, Program Chief Officer of the National Abortion FederationThe health.

To request assistance from NAF, call the hotline at 1-800-772-9100 or the referral line at 1-877-257-0012. You can also get in touch via their online chat service.

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National Network of Abortion Funds

Although not an abortion fund itself, NNAF has an interactive map of abortion funds across the country that provides details about what each fund covers and who they serve. Around 50 percent of the over 100 health insurance funds in their network cover the all-round costs of an abortion (travel, logistics, hotels, meals). The funds within the NNAF network are also known for working together to ensure every patient receives the support and funding they need, Rodriguez said.

Localized funds and organizations tend to be more familiar with and adept at addressing the specific barriers they see in their communities, whether that be distance to clinics, laws, or disinformation.

“Everyone is a little different and that’s their strength,” Rodriguez said. She also recommends that people who need support take a look at INeedAnA.org, an organization that works closely with abortion funds and clinics to provide up-to-date information about local resources that are immediately available.

In conclusion, it is important to note that using this type of abortion assistance services and resources is very safe and secure. They do not ask about a patient's documentation status, proof of income or household expenses.

“It's really important that people can ask for help in a way that allows them to not have to reveal everything about their life to prove that they need support,” Rodriguez said.

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