Abortion Access Now Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Hyde Amendment

Today marks 50 years since Congress first enacted the Hyde Amendment, denying abortion coverage to people enrolled in Medicaid and creating a blueprint for similar restrictions across federal health programs. For half a century, this policy has pushed abortion care out of reach for millions, including women with low incomes, military personnel and their families, federal employees, Indigenous women who receive care through the Indian Health Service, and others who obtain care or coverage through federal health programs and plans. Due to systemic discrimination, these restrictions cause disproportionate harm to Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other people of color, immigrants, young people, people with disabilities, and others already facing barriers to care.

Leaders of Abortion Access Now issued the following statement:

“For 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has blocked women from getting abortion care and denied them the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, families, and futures simply because of their income and their type of health insurance. That is 50 years of discrimination, inequity, and preventable harm—and it is by design.

“Millions of women who are enrolled in Medicaid and other federal health programs get coverage for pregnancy, miscarriage, and childbirth care. But the Hyde Amendment prevents people from using that coverage for abortion, with only a few narrow, often unworkable exceptions. 

“Hyde’s harm began almost immediately. In 1977, Rosie Jiménez, a 27-year-old Latina college student and mother, became the first known person to die after being unable to afford safe abortion care when Medicaid stopped covering it. Her death exposed the devastating consequences of separating a legal right from the resources needed to exercise it. Today, people who need abortions are still forced to delay care and sacrifice rent, food, and other necessities—or continue pregnancies against their will because their insurance cannot cover abortion.

“Everyone should be able to make the decision about whether, when, or how to become a parent, including the decision to have an abortion, without interference from lawmakers who deny Medicaid enrollees access to basic healthcare. For five decades, Hyde’s harm has been sustained through politicians’ annual decision to continue this policy and determine who can use their health insurance to get abortions and who cannot.  

“Abortion is health care, and it should be covered like any other healthcare. It is long past time for Congress to end the Hyde Amendment and other abortion coverage restrictions. Our ability to access abortion care should not depend on how much money we make, what insurance we have, or where we live.”