Social Science Oral Abstracts

Upadhyay, Ushma D.; Ahlbach, Chris; Kaller, Shelly; Cook, Catherine; Muñoz, Isabel María Bernedo

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2021.03.011

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…These barriers led to delays in service as well as inquiry into self-managed abortions. While resonating with prior literature [9,15,32], this cumulative analysis captured anonymous sentiments posted by abortion-seekers online, in real time, versus during retrospective data collection. Moreover, we documented cost-related challenges before individuals ever entered an abortion clinic-if they were able to do so at all.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While costs vary, the typical price tag for both surgical abortion and medication abortion in the first trimester usually falls between $500 and $1000 [8,9], with the average medication abortion price hovering around $550 [10]. Second trimester costs are significantly higher [9]. However, those procedure fees do not include attendant transportation, childcare, or other costs such as loss of wages or potential job loss from taking time off from work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Real-Time Effects of Payer Restrictions on Reproductive Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis of Cost-Related Barriers and Their Consequences among U.S. Abortion Seekers on Reddit

Higgins

Lands

Valley

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Objective: The Hyde Amendment and related policies limit or prohibit Medicaid coverage of abortion services in the United States. Most research on cost-related abortion barriers relies on clinic-based samples, but people who desire abortions may never make it to a healthcare center. To examine a novel, pre-abortion population, we analyzed a unique qualitative dataset of posts from Reddit, a widely used social media platform increasingly leveraged by researchers, to assess financial obstacles among anonymous posters considering abortion. Methods: In February 2020, we used Python to web-scrape the 250 most recent posts that mentioned abortion, removing all identifying information and usernames. After transferring all posts into NVivo, a qualitative software package, the team identified all datapoints related to cost. Three qualitatively trained evaluators established and applied codes, reaching saturation after 194 posts. The research team used a descriptive qualitative approach, using both inductive and deductive elements, to identify and analyze themes related to financial barriers. Results: We documented multiple cost-related deterrents, including lack of funds for both the procedure and attendant travel costs, inability to afford desired abortion modality (i.e., medication or surgical), and for some, consideration of self-managed abortion options due to cost barriers. Conclusions: Findings from this study underscore the centrality of cost barriers and third-party payer restrictions to stymying reproductive health access in the United States. Results may contribute to the growing evidence base and building political momentum focused on repealing the Hyde Amendment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Real-Time Effects of Payer Restrictions on Reproductive Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis of Cost-Related Barriers and Their Consequences among U.S. Abortion Seekers on Reddit

Higgins

Lands

Valley

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Although the expanded availability of health insurance following passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has improved protections against financial hardships, one medical service—abortion care—has often been excluded from coverage. Therefore, some patients must pay $600 to more than $1000 out of pocket, depending on the type of abortion care needed. As the Biden administration and the 117th Congress consider improvements in equitable access to health care, abortion care should not be left behind.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Affordability and Access to Abortion Care in the United States

2021

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Access to medical services is a critical element of a country's health care system. Access to care has multiple dimensions, including the quality and types of services available, how far an individual must travel for care, and the convenience of scheduling and attending appointments. 1 In the United States, affordability is a crucial determinant of health care access: approximately 30 million people in the US lacked health insurance in 2020, 2 and approximately 30 million live below the federal poverty level, which in 2021 is defined as a combined income of $26 500 for a family of 4.Unexpected medical expenses are a common cause of financial hardship and bankruptcy for people who are uninsured or whose insurance provides inadequate protection against substantial out-of-pocket health care costs. Although the expanded availability of health insurance following passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has improved protections against financial hardships, one medical service-abortion care-has often been excluded from coverage. Therefore, some patients must pay $600 to more than $1000 out of pocket, 3 depending on the type of abortion care needed. As the Biden administration and the 117th Congress consider improvements in equitable access to health care, abortion care should not be left behind.Prohibitions on insurance coverage for abortion care in the US date from 1976, when a legislative rider on federal appropriations, known as the Hyde Amendment (named after the anti-abortion Republican Congressman Henry Hyde), banned the use of federal funds to pay for abortion care except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the person needing abortion care was endangered (Pub L No. 95-480 II USC §210). Federal funds pay for fewer than 500 of the estimated 862 000 abortions obtained annually in the US. 4

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