DOVER, DE — Today, January 22, on what would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that codified the right to an abortion, the ACLU of Delaware is calling on Delaware lawmakers to take further action to expand abortion access in the First State through House Substitute 1 for House Bill 110 (HS 1 for HB 110) — legislation that ensures that people on Medicaid, private, and state insurance plans can access abortion care without financial burden.
Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe, 14 states have enacted near-total abortion bans, and two states have banned abortion past six weeks of pregnancy. While Delaware has been proactive in enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution since 2017, the costs associated with obtaining an abortion still pose a substantial barrier. In Delaware, the average cost of an abortion ranges from $500 to $791. “The price tag on an abortion forces many people to shift critical funds away from necessities such as food, rent, childcare, and other medical expenses to access the care they need,” said Helen Salita, Campaign Manager at ACLU-DE, “No person should have to risk eviction, health complications, loss of employment, or other consequences to cover medical services.” Seventeen states, including neighbors Maryland and New Jersey, already allow Medicaid funding for abortion.
Reproductive freedom and racial justice advocates also argue that denying coverage for abortion care disproportionately impacts historically marginalized communities, exacerbating existing racial and socio-economic disparities. “Abortion rights are meaningless if people from all walks of life — young people, low-income people, communities of color — cannot access the care they need because of financial barriers, said Shané Darby, Founder of Black Mothers in Power, “Addressing disparities in reproductive healthcare access, particularly for Black and Brown people, means ensuring abortion access does not depend on how much money a person makes.”
During the 2023 legislative session, HS 1 for HB 110 stalled in the Delaware House of Representatives. It is currently awaiting funding consideration by the Joint Finance Committee. “Last year, Delaware lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to enhance abortion protection and ensure abortion services are accessible for all who need it,” said Javonne Rich, Policy and Advocacy Director at ACLU-DE., “By funding HS 1 for HB 110, Delaware lawmakers are ensuring that every person — regardless of their insurance provider or ability to obtain insurance — have the ability to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures.”
“There’s no time to waste,” Salita says, “While HS 1 for HB 110 continues to struggle for funding, Delawareans are suffering the cost. We are calling on Delaware lawmakers to make 2024 the year our state takes steps towards becoming a true safe haven for abortion care.”
Visit action.aclu.org/hs1hb110 to send a message urging Delaware lawmakers to support and fund HS 1 for HB 110.
