DOVER, DE — Today, the Delaware General Assembly passed House Substitute 2 for House Bill 110 (HS 2 for HB 110), legislation that ensures that people on Medicaid, private, and state insurance plans can access abortion care without financial burden. The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader, Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
“As we mark two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark court decision that codified the right to an abortion, HS 2 for HB 110’s passage reaffirms Delaware’s commitment to pushing back against nationwide attacks on abortion rights,” said Helen Salita, campaign manager at ACLU-DE, “Delaware has already been a leader in guaranteeing abortion rights in our state law, it’s past time that we ensure that people from all walks of life are able to access the care they need.”
Generally, abortion costs in Delaware range between $500-$791, but that price may vary by provider and gestation. For many vulnerable populations such as the young, low-income, and communities of color, this price tag forces them to shift critical funds away from rent, food, childcare, transportation, or other medical expenses–or forgo treatment altogether. “It’s simple. Abortion access should never depend on how much money a person makes,” said Salita, “By eliminating financial hurdles to accessing care, HS 2 for HB 110 is a critical step toward breaking down socioeconomic barriers and racial disparities in reproductive care in our state.”
Once HS 2 for HB 110 is signed into law, Delaware will join seventeen other states, including neighboring states of Maryland and New Jersey, in allowing Medicaid-funding for abortion care.
