Skip to main content

Guttmacher Institute

Donate Now

Highlights

  • COVID-19 impact
  • IPSRH: Focus on Abortion
  • Adding It Up
  • Guttmacher-Lancet Commission
  • U.S. policy resources
  • State policy resources
  • State legislation tracker

Reports

  • Global
  • U.S.

Articles

  • Global research
  • U.S. research
  • Policy analysis
  • Guttmacher Policy Review
  • Op-eds & external blogs

Fact Sheets

  • Global
  • U.S.
  • U.S. State Laws and Policies

Data & Visualizations

  • Data center
  • Infographics

Peer-Reviewed Journals

  • International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Global

  • Abortion
  • Contraception
  • HIV & STIs
  • Pregnancy
  • Teens

U.S.

  • Abortion
  • Contraception
  • HIV & STIs
  • Pregnancy
  • Teens

Our Work By Geography

  • Global
  • Asia
  • Latin America & the Caribbean
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • United States

Who We Are

  • About us
  • Staff
  • Board
  • Job opportunities
  • History
  • Contact

Media

  • Media office
  • News releases

Support Our Work

  • Make a gift today
  • Monthly Giving Circle
  • Guttmacher Guardians
  • Donate stock or securites
  • Guttmacher Legacy Circle
  • Financials
  • Annual Report

Awards and Scholarships

  • Darroch Award
  • Richards Scholarship

Search form

Good reproductive health policy starts with credible research

 

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Email
Guttmacher Institute

Good reproductive health policy starts with credible research

 

Donate Now

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Email

Highlights

  • COVID-19 impact
  • IPSRH: Focus on Abortion
  • Adding It Up
  • Guttmacher-Lancet Commission
  • U.S. policy resources
  • State policy resources
  • State legislation tracker

Reports

  • Global
  • U.S.

Articles

  • Global research
  • U.S. research
  • Policy analysis
  • Guttmacher Policy Review
  • Op-eds & external blogs

Fact Sheets

  • Global
  • U.S.
  • U.S. State Laws and Policies

Data & Visualizations

  • Data center
  • Infographics

Peer-Reviewed Journals

  • International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Global

  • Abortion
  • Contraception
  • HIV & STIs
  • Pregnancy
  • Teens

U.S.

  • Abortion
  • Contraception
  • HIV & STIs
  • Pregnancy
  • Teens

Our Work By Geography

  • Global
  • Asia
  • Latin America & the Caribbean
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • United States

Who We Are

  • About us
  • Staff
  • Board
  • Job opportunities
  • History
  • Contact

Media

  • Media office
  • News releases

Support Our Work

  • Make a gift today
  • Monthly Giving Circle
  • Guttmacher Guardians
  • Donate stock or securites
  • Guttmacher Legacy Circle
  • Financials
  • Annual Report

Awards and Scholarships

  • Darroch Award
  • Richards Scholarship

Search form

As of March 1, 2021 State Laws and Policies

State Funding of Abortion Under Medicaid

Background

First implemented in 1977, the Hyde Amendment, which currently forbids the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest, has guided public funding for abortions under the joint federal-state Medicaid programs for low-income women. At a minimum, states must cover those abortions that meet the federal exceptions. Although most states meet the requirements, one state is in violation of federal Medicaid law, because it pays for abortions only in cases of life endangerment. Some states use their own funds to pay for all or most medically necessary abortions, although most do so as a result of a specific court order.

Visit our state legislation tracker for policy activity on all sexual and reproductive health topics.

Highlights

  • 33 states and the District of Columbia follow the federal standard and provide abortions in cases of life endangerment, rape and incest.
    • 4 of these states also provide state funds for abortions in cases of fetal impairment.
    • 4 of these states also provide state funds for abortions that are necessary to prevent grave, long-lasting damage to the woman’s physical health.
  • 1 state provides abortions only in cases of life endangerment, in apparent violation of the federal standard.
  • 16 states have a policy that directs Medicaid to pay for all or most medically necessary abortions.
    • 7 of these states provide such funds voluntarily.
    • 9 of these states do so pursuant to a court order.

 

Printer-friendly version

For more information

  • Public Policy Office

    202 296-4012
    [email protected]

Topic

United States

  • Abortion: Demographics, State Policies on Abortion

Geography

  • United States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Related Content

Policy Analysis

Insurance Coverage of Abortion: Beyond the Exceptions For Life Endangerment, Rape and Incest

Guttmacher Policy Review
Report

Public Funding for Family Planning and Abortion Services, FY 1980–2015

Research Article

Medicaid Funding for Abortion: Providers' Experiences with Cases Involving Rape, Incest and Life Endangerment

Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Report

Restrictions on Medicaid Funding for Abortions: A Literature Review

State Funding of Abortion Under Medicaid

STATE

GENERALLY FOLLOWS THE FEDERAL STANDARD, FUNDS IN CASES OF:

FUNDS ALL OR MOST MEDICALLY NECESSARY ABORTIONS

Life Endangerment, Rape and Incest

Other Exceptions

Alabama

X

 

 

Alaska

 

 

 Court order*

Arizona

  X †​

 

 

Arkansas

X

 

 

California

 

 

Court order

Colorado

X

 

 

Connecticut

 

 

Court order

Delaware

X

 

 

Dist. of Columbia

X

 

 

Florida

X

 

 

Georgia

X

 

 

Hawaii

 

 

Voluntarily

Idaho

X

 

 

Illinois

 

 

Voluntarily

Indiana

X

Physical health

 

Iowa‡

X

Fetal impairment

 

Kansas

X

 

 

Kentucky

X

 

 

Louisiana

X

 

 

Maine

 

 

Voluntarily

Maryland

 

 

Voluntarily

Massachusetts

 

 

Court order

Michigan

X

 

 

Minnesota

 

 

Court order

Mississippi

X

Fetal impairment

 

Missouri

X

 

 

Montana

 

 

Court order

Nebraska

X

 

 

Nevada

X

 

 

New Hampshire

X

 

 

New Jersey

 

 

Court order

New Mexico

 

 

Court order

New York

 

 

Voluntarily

North Carolina

X

 

 

North Dakota

X

 

 

Ohio

X

 

 

Oklahoma

X

 

 

Oregon

 

 

Voluntarily

Pennsylvania

X

 

 

Rhode Island

X

 

 

South Carolina

X

 

 

South Dakota

Ω

 

 

Tennessee

X

 

 

Texas

X

 

 

Utah

X

Physical health

 

Vermont

 

 

Court order

Virginia

X

Fetal impairment

 

Washington

 

 

Voluntarily

West Virginia

 X 

Physical health, fetal impairment 

 

Wisconsin

X

Physical health

 

Wyoming

X

 

 

TOTAL

33+DC

 

16

*    A law that defines medically necessary is permanently blocked by a court.
†   Despite the court order, the state Medicaid program does not pay for medically necessary abortions.
‡   The Iowa governor must approve any abortion paid for by the Medicaid program.
Ω  State only pays for abortions when necessary to protect the woman’s life.

 

Get updates on policy issues and more

THE TIME IS NOW

Stand up for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
We need your support.

Donate
Guttmacher Institute
Reproductive rights are under attack. Will you help us fight back with facts?
Donate Now
Follow Guttmacher:

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Footer Menu

  • Privacy Policy
© 2021 Guttmacher Institute. The Guttmacher Institute is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the tax identification number 13-2890727. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable.

Get Our Updates