Rising demand for late-term abortions strains clinics as bans spread across the U.S.

As abortion bans proliferate in about 41 states, clinics that provide care throughout pregnancy are encountering a surge of patients who present later and with more complex health needs. The decline in Medicaid eligibility for over 20 million people since 2023, combined with rising ACA exchange premiums, has left many seeking care without insurance, inflating the price of later abortions to figures like $22,000. Providers such as Diane Horvath of Partners in Abortion Care note that patients are often forced to travel across state lines, ending up past the second trimester in states like Maryland where no viability limit exists.

Funding groups, including the DC Abortion Fund, are stretched thin as demand for assistance with procedures at 30 weeks or beyond climbs sharply. Despite financial pressures, clinics continue to operate, emphasizing patient autonomy and trauma-informed care, while highlighting the growing disparity faced by young, low-income individuals in healthcare deserts.