With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States on June 24, 2022, many states may find themselves updating their abortion laws. In Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States, rather than the states themselves, would confer the right to abortion. Before the overturn, abortion was legal in all 50 states, all territories, and the District of Columbia. Still, some states and territories have included more restrictions or completely banned abortion for women, regardless of the stage of their pregnancy.
Reproductive rights are a systematic problem in the United States. The overturn is especially detrimental to women of lower privilege, like undocumented women or black or indigenous women of color, who are not given the same respect and right to reproductive health as women of higher social status. Lack of access to affordable and respectful reproductive care and abortions has led to women seeking out clinics nearly 500 miles away in some situations to get the care they need. Bans and restrictions pose a risk to women's health and well-being.
Below is a list of the United States abortion laws by state or territory, including the legality of abortions and whether minors can access abortions without parental consent.
Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and the Northern Mariana Islands
● Abortion is completely banned and cannot be performed at any stage of pregnancy.
● limited exceptions for abortion and Medicaid coverage
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal at any gestational age if performed only by a licensed physician.
● State Medicaid coverage
● Parental consent is required in the procedure for minors.
● Abortion is completely banned and cannot be performed at any stage of pregnancy.
● Limited exceptions for abortion
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 15 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Montana, and New York
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24–26 weeks and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● State Medicaid coverage
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions in California.
● Abortion is legal at any gestational age and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal at any gestational age and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions.
Delaware and Rhode Island
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24–26 weeks and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 22 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 13 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● Parental consent is required in the procedure for minors.
● Abortion is legal at any gestational age and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● State Medicaid coverage
● In Hawaii, parental consent is required for minor procedures
New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont
● Abortion is legal at any gestational age and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● State Medicaid coverage
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions in New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, or Vermont.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24 weeks and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● State Medicaid coverage
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24 weeks and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● State Medicaid coverage
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24–26 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24–26 weeks if performed only by a
● State Medicaid coverage
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions.
Nevada and the US Virgin Islands
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions in both Nevada or the US Virgin Islands.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 24 weeks and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions.
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 20 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 22 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Minors do not require parental consent for abortions.
● Abortion is legal before the gestational age of 18 weeks if performed only by a licensed physician.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
● Abortion is legal before the third trimester and can be performed by any qualified healthcare provider.
● Medicaid coverage is banned with limited exceptions
● In minor procedures, parental consent is required.
Although this may seem fair because multiple states still consent to abortion up to a specific stage of their pregnancy, Medicaid has been banned in many of these states, affecting the working class because those without coverage cannot obtain safe abortions. In a progressive society, it is a shame to see the U.S. taking a big step back toward women's rights and safety.
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