Does Maryland Medicaid Cover Abortions

Date:

Do I Pay For Abortions

What is Medicaid & How Do I Apply?

Yes, at least some. If you live in the United States, regardless of what state you live in, at least some of your tax dollars go to abortions. All Americans directly pay for at least some abortions through federal tax dollars. All Americans also help indirectly fund abortion through tax funding of abortion providers.

If you live in one of the states that cover abortions beyond the provisions of the Hyde Amendment, a much more significant portion of your tax dollars goes directly toward abortions. You also fund more abortions outside of cases such as rape or threat to the mothers life than if you live in one of the other states.

What If Medicare Does Not Cover All The Costs Of Pregnancy And Child Delivery

If you need help paying for the portion of your medical care that Medicare does not cover, resources may be available to help you. You might be eligible to enroll yourself and/or your newborn in Medicaid. To learn more, contact your state Medicaid agency.

If youd like more information about Medicare plan options and possible coverage of pregnancy, Id be happy to answer your questions. You can request a phone call or an email with information by clicking the appropriate link below. To see a list of plans in your area you may qualify for, click the Compare Plans button below.

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State Funding Of Abortion

While the federal government only covers abortions in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest, Medicaid is a joint program funded by both the federal and state governments. Usually, the federal government pays for a percentage of procedures, while the state government picks up the rest of the tab. States can also choose to pay for procedures not covered by the federal government with their own tax revenue.

The Hyde Amendment does not in any way apply to state Medicaid programs or restrict them from covering abortions. Because of this, individual states can decide whether or not to fund abortions using tax dollars collected from state residents, and many do so.

  • Currently, 15 statesAlaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washingtonuse taxpayer money to pay for a variety abortions not covered by the Hyde Amendment.
  • Of the other 35 states, two officially cover many abortions beyond the Hyde Amendment, but in practice fund very few, less than a hundred annually.
  • Seven statesIndiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginiago beyond the Hyde Amendment only to provide funding in cases of fetal abnormalities or less serious health concerns.
  • The remaining states follow the Hyde Amendment, except for South Dakota, which only funds abortions in cases where the mothers life is supposed to be threatened .

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What Can I Do To Reduce Taxpayer Funding Of Abortions

  • Fight to Preserve the Hyde Amendment. Because the Hyde Amendment needs to be reapproved every year as an addition to the budget, it is constantly under threat. Ensuring that it remains in place prevents a huge volume of federal tax money from being spent on abortions.
  • Help Efforts to Defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the single largest abortion provider in the United States, receiving hundreds of thousands in government funding. Planned Parenthood is involved in numerous scandals and blatantly misuses the tax money it receives.
  • Join State and Local Pro-Life Organizations. If you live in a state where Medicaid funds abortions, involving yourself with state-level campaigns can have significant impacts. Many of these pro-life organizations need more members and volunteers for a wide variety of things, and every little bit helps.
  • Contact State and Federal Congressmen. Calling, emailing, or speaking in person with your Congress members can have a significant impact on their decisions. Politicians are not always interested in doing the right thing, but they are interested in the support of their constituents. Moreover, with so much attention on the United States federal government, state-level laws are often much easier to influence if you keep a strong presence.
  • How States Were Violating Medicaid Law

    Abortion Clinics In Md That Accept Medicaid

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office is the non-partisan research arm of Congress. The GAO is important because it supports Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and because it helps to improve the performance and accountability of the federal government. It is therefore noteworthy that the GAO concluded that various states were not complying with Medicaid law and policy by limiting access to abortion coverage.

    The report cited multiple violations of federal policy. One state, South Dakota, does not cover abortions in cases of rape or incest, forcing survivors to carry these pregnancies to term. This is nothing new. We knew that South Dakota has been legally and morally liable for at least 26 years. In fact, a South Dakota statute clearly establishes that coverage is only provided to those whose lives are in danger. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent two letters to South Dakotaone in 1994 and another one in 1998asking South Dakota to cover abortions under the rape and incest circumstances. In 2014, NHeLP and other advocates reminded CMS of its duty to issue updated guidance reiterating states obligation to cover abortion in all the Hyde Amendment exceptions. No such guidance has been issued.

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    The Affordable Care Act And Abortions

    Abortions are not considered an essential health benefit for women under the Affordable Care Act. As such, states have the right to ban coverage on health insurance plants that are offered via the insurance marketplace. A total of 25 states have elected to ban coverage under the Affordable Care Act. In six states, coverage for abortions is not banned, but there arent any plants that offer coverage in via the marketplace.

    Public Funding For Abortion

    What is the Hyde Amendment?

    Passed by Congress in 1976, the Hyde Amendment excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid. Congress has made some exceptions to the funding ban, which have varied over the years. At present, the federal Medicaid program mandates abortion funding in cases of rape or incest, as well as when a pregnant woman’s life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury.

    Most states have followed the federal government’s lead in restricting public funding for abortion. Currently only seventeen states fund abortions for low-income women on the same or similar terms as other pregnancy-related and general health services. Four of these states provide funding voluntarily in thirteen, courts interpreting their state constitutions have declared broad and independent protection for reproductive choice and have ordered nondiscriminatory public funding of abortion .2 Thirty-two of the remaining states pay for abortions for low-income women in cases of life-endangering circumstances, rape, or incest, as mandated by federal Medicaid law.3 Finally, one state fails even to comply with the Hyde Amendment, instead providing coverage only for lifesaving abortions.

    Who else is affected by the funding bans?

    Why is it important that Congress repeal the Hyde Amendment and other bans on abortion funding?

    Endnotes

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    Paying For An Abortion Without Insurance

    Planned Parenthood is one of the largest resources for family planning in the United States. Planned Parenthood professionals often charge less for services based on income. The center accepts major health insurance carriers. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for a discounted fee scale under Title X. Planned Parenthood can also help you sign up for additional programs that can help pay for services such as the Family Planning Benefit Program or Medicaid.

    Outside of Planned Parenthood assistance, you may qualify for coverage under your states Medicaid program to pay for services at an abortion clinic. Otherwise, you will likely need to pay out-of-pocket at the abortion clinic itself. There may be options available to you such as community health centers, depending on where you live.

    Dc Statehood And Taxpayer Funding Of Abortion

    Qualification requirements for Medicaid in Maryland

    To view this fact sheet as a PDF, see: Fact Sheet: D.C. Statehood and Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

    Medicaid covers abortions only in rare cases. Since 1976, federal funding for Medicaid has been passed by Congress with an annual rider known as the Hyde Amendment, which limits federal dollars from funding abortion except in instances of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Some states have chosen to use their own state funds to pay for the abortions of women enrolled in Medicaid, but under the Hyde Amendment, this funding must be maintained separately from the federal Medicaid program.

    Currently, the District of Columbia does not fund abortion. As a district rather than a state, D.C.s budget is controlled by Congress, which in most years includes the Dornan Amendment, a D.C. version of the Hyde amendment that blocks District tax dollars from funding abortion. In 2009 and 2010, a pro-abortion Congress passed D.C.s budget with a weakened version of the Dornan Amendment, allowing the District to use its own funds for abortion. Due to administrative delays, though, D.C. did not actually begin paying for abortions until August 2010. Eventually, D.C. funded approximately 300 abortions before the full Dornan Amendment was reinstated in 2011 and abortion funding was cut off.

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    Would These Abortions Go Away Without Medicaid Funding

    Some would, though some would be paid for privately. When Medicaid does not cover abortions, studies have found that the number of abortions drops by about one-third. Those pregnancies are carried to term, and the child is left alive. Decades of other research on the issue have had similar findings. According to these studies, about a third of Medicaid-funded abortions dont happen if they have to be paid for privately.

    In addition, without Medicaid funding, unwanted births decrease as well. Research has shown that when abortion is more difficult to access financially, people take greater care to avoid pregnancy. In fact, the effect is so significant that some studies have found that the number of births actually decreases along with drops in abortions.

    What Are The Health Impacts Of Medicaid Funding Of Abortion

    Many people are often confused by the fact that abortions can be covered by Medicaid at all as elective procedures. In many states, however, they are described as medically necessary. Such a term leads people to believe that the hundreds of thousands of abortions being conducted are needed to preserve the mothers lives. Because of this, they naturally believe that in the absence of such funding, womens health and well-being suffer as a result.

    This, however, could not be further from the truth. The term medically necessary does not mean that these procedures had to be performed to protect the health of the mother . Medically necessary is merely a classification of procedures covered by Medicaid. Moreover, the evidence shows that Medicaid funding of abortion does not help women tragically, it harms them.

    Research in the American Journal of Public Health has shown that when Medicaid funding for abortions is cut, the number and proportion of hospitalizations decreases significantly. This is because not only does cutting funding reduce abortions, but it results in far fewer late-term abortions that carry the largest risks.

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    Things To Know About Abortion In Maryland

    And why you should give a monthly donation to Baltimore Abortion Fund starting NOW

    Thats why the Baltimore Abortion Fund, alongside supporters like you and other abortion funds around the country, is working to remove financial barriers, and toward a vision of justice and liberation.

  • Time is of the essence and abortion is not cheap.An abortion gets increasingly more expensive the longer a person waits. Clinics determine the cost of an abortion based on two primary factors: the number of weeks since a persons last menstrual period, and which type of procedure the person gets. In Maryland, a medication abortion can range from $350-600. A surgical abortion can be many thousands of dollars, depending on timing and if there are any complication factors. Over 60 percent of people who call BAFs helpline are in their second trimester , and they report their procedures average about $3,500. And this is before factoring in the cost of travel, accommodations, childcare, and taking time off work with no pay. It is prohibitively expensive for many pregnant people and their loved ones.
  • Will you sign up to support our work in 2021 and beyond? Become a monthly sustaining donor today.

    How Do I Pay For My Abortion

    Abortion Clinics In Md That Accept Medicaid

    Choices accepts many forms of payment. We accept all insurances, including State Medicaid from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and New York. If you live in New York, you can apply for Emergency Medicaid in our office for an abortion that day. Reasonable self-pay and sliding scale plans are available. We accept cash and all major credit cards. In addition, Choices works with funding organizations that raise money for abortions to make sure no one will be turned away because of financial need. When you call for an appointment, ask to speak with one of our Financial Counselors.

    To see if you qualify for emergency medicaid, take our quiz.

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    Does Medicaid Cover Abortions In Nj

    Be confident when you apply and know that, if you qualify for medicaid, you have the right to receive abortion coverage and enroll in a timely manner. Abortion is a medical procedure legally available to all new jersey citizens regardless of age for terminating a pregnancy, through a licensed physician, hospital, or clinic.

    Total Cost Of Abortion In New Jersey By Weeks Pregnant

    Benefits And Services Not Covered By The Planning For Healthy Babies Program

    Increasing the range of coverage for abortion care . The maryland children=s health program provides coverage to pregnant women and children with family incomes which do not exceed 200% . Benefits and services not covered by the planning for healthy babies program . We accept maryland medicaid, amerigroup, maryland physicians’ care, united healthcare, blue cross/blue shield, and . What type of medical treatment do you provide? Amerigroup community care in maryland in accordance with the. Department of health does not allow reimbursement for abortions. Learn about vaccines, tests and coverage. What insurance companies do you accept? At kaiser permanente, you have a wide network of doctors to choose from. Trusted obgyns serving frederick, md & mount airy, md. Visit our website to book an appointment online: The member handbook tells you how amerigroup works and how to stay healthy.

    Priority partners is owned by johns hopkins healthcare llc and the maryland community health system. What insurance companies do you accept? What type of medical treatment do you provide? Increasing the range of coverage for abortion care . Benefits and services not covered by the planning for healthy babies program .

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    Can I Qualify For A Free Abortion

    For women who are not able to pay for an abortion and do not have insurance or other resources, we can work out financing so abortion can be free or low-cost. We partner with funding agencies so no one need to be afraid they will be turned away. If you live in New York State you may qualify for Emergency Medicaid which covers all pregnancy-related services, including abortion. Click here to visit our financial help page.

    To see if you qualify for emergency medicaid, take our quiz.

    State Laws And Policies

    Texas removes Planned Parenthood from Medicaid program

    For a chart of current laws and policies in each state related to Medicaid coverage of abortion, see State Funding of Abortion Under Medicaid.

    For information on state laws and policies related to other sexual and reproductive health and rights issues, see State Laws and Policies, issue-by-issue fact sheets updated monthly by the Guttmacher Institutes policy analysts to reflect the most recent legislative, administrative and judicial actions.

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    Abortion Is A Safe And Legal Way To End Pregnancy

    Abortions are very common. In fact, 3 out of 10 women in the U.S. have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.

    There are two kinds of abortion in the U.S. medication abortion and in-clinic abortion .

    • to learn more about the two types of abortions.
    • to learn about medication abortion via telemedicine.
    • to get detailed instructions and payment information for a medication abortion at Planned Parenthood of Maryland.
    • to get detailed instructions and payment information for an in-clinic abortion at Planned Parenthood of Maryland.

    Maryland law requires that one parent or guardian be notified before a minor has an abortion. If you are under 18, to learn more about Marylands law on parental notification for abortion.

    Although Maryland is one of the few states that cover abortion for certain women receiving Medicaid, women without this coverage but in financial need must have somewhere to turn.

    For these women, Planned Parenthood of Maryland administers the June Coleman Fund, which is part of the National Network of Abortion Funds. Please contact us at 410-576-1414 for more information.

    Enrollment And Eligibility Information For Immigrant Families

    You can still apply for health coverage through Maryland Health Connection, Marylands health insurance marketplace, even if not all of your family members have an immigration status that qualifies them for coverage. Individuals who are not requesting coverage will not be asked about their immigration status.vi

    People who are living in the United States legally can sign up for coverage through the Maryland Health Connection if they are lawfully present. You are lawfully present if you fit into one of the following categories:vii

    • Lawful Permanent Resident . You are a lawful permanent resident if you have permission to live and work in the United States. Applicants for LPR status may also qualify.
    • Refugees and others who cant return to their home country. This group includes people who were granted asylum, and those whose deportation or removal was temporarily paused.
    • Humanitarian immigrants, including:
    • Certain Cuban and Haitian nationals.
    • Individuals paroled into the U.S. or granted temporary protected status.
    • Individuals who have applied for special immigrant juvenile status.
  • Survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and other serious crimes, including:
  • Abused spouses and children who qualify for protection under the Violence Against Women Act , as well as parents and/or children of an abused spouse or child.
  • Immigrant survivors of human trafficking.
  • U-Visa holders.
  • People with valid non-immigrant status, including:
  • Longtime residents, including:
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