Abortion By The Numbers | Forbes
TLDRThe script discusses the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court, which could end the nationwide legal right to abortion. It highlights the difficulty in obtaining accurate abortion numbers, with estimates ranging from 630,000 to 886,000 annually. The video also covers contraceptive effectiveness, abortion methods, and the rising costs and distances people may have to travel for the procedure, emphasizing the impact of state-level restrictions on access to abortion.
Takeaways
- ⚖️ The US Supreme Court may overturn the nationwide legal right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade.
- 📊 In 2019, the CDC estimated around 630,000 abortions in the US, but this number may be higher due to incomplete data.
- 📈 The Guttmacher Institute estimates around 886,000 abortions per year in the US.
- 💊 There are two main types of abortion: medication abortion (abortion pill) and surgical abortion.
- 📉 Medication abortions accounted for 54% of abortions in 2020, up from 39% in 2017.
- 👶 The majority of abortions (93%) occur in the first trimester, before 13 weeks of gestation.
- ⏳ Several states have passed abortion bans at different weeks, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Idaho with six-week bans.
- 💸 The median cost of a first-trimester medication abortion was $560 in 2020, while a surgical abortion was $575.
- 🚗 Travel costs for accessing abortion services can be around $1,000, including transportation, hotels, and childcare.
- 📉 The percentage of abortion providers accepting insurance has decreased from 89% in 2017 to 80% in 2020.
Q & A
How long has abortion been legal in the United States?
-Abortion has been legal in the United States for nearly 50 years.
What significant change could occur regarding abortion rights in the U.S.?
-The U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the nationwide legal right to abortion established by Roe vs. Wade.
How many abortions were estimated by the CDC in 2019?
-The CDC estimated around 630,000 abortions in the United States in 2019.
Why are the CDC's abortion statistics considered incomplete?
-The CDC's statistics are incomplete because providers voluntarily submit data to states, and some states like California, Maryland, and New Hampshire do not submit data.
How does the Guttmacher Institute's estimate of annual abortions differ from the CDC's estimate?
-The Guttmacher Institute estimates around 886,000 abortions per year in the United States, which is significantly higher than the CDC's estimate.
What is the failure rate for contraceptive methods such as vasectomies and tubal ligations?
-Vasectomies and tubal ligations have a fraction of a percent failure rate, meaning they are not 100% effective.
What percentage of abortions were medication abortions in 2020?
-Medication abortions accounted for 54% of abortions in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
When do the majority of abortions occur during pregnancy?
-The vast majority of abortions (93%) occur in the first trimester, before 13 weeks of gestation.
How much does a first-trimester surgical abortion cost on average?
-A first-trimester surgical abortion has a median cost of around $575.
What additional costs might be incurred by those seeking abortions due to state restrictions?
-Additional costs might include travel, hotels, childcare, and meal stipends, which can average around $1,000, as arranged by the Bridget Alliance.
What is the potential impact if abortion rights are decided at the state level?
-If abortion rights are decided at the state level, accessing abortion could become more expensive and difficult, potentially preventing some people from accessing abortions at all.
Outlines
📜 Legal Changes in Abortion Rights
The script discusses the potential overturning of the nationwide legal right to abortion in the United States by the Supreme Court, as suggested by a leaked draft decision. It highlights the uncertainty surrounding the number of abortions performed annually due to incomplete federal data, with estimates ranging from 630,000 to 886,000 by the CDC and the Guttmacher Institute, respectively. The script also touches on the effectiveness of various contraceptive methods and the rise in medication abortions, which accounted for 54% of all abortions in 2020 according to the Guttmacher Institute.
💰 Financial and Logistical Barriers to Abortion
This paragraph delves into the financial implications of abortion, including the costs of medication and surgical procedures, which are estimated to be around $560 and $575, respectively, for first-trimester abortions. It also addresses the increasing costs associated with traveling to access abortion services due to state restrictions, with the Bridget Alliance estimating an average cost of $1,000 for transportation, accommodations, and other related expenses. The paragraph concludes with the potential consequences of a patchwork system of state-level abortion regulations, which could make access more expensive and difficult, and in some cases, unattainable.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Supreme Court
💡Roe v. Wade
💡Abortion Surveillance Program
💡Guttmacher Institute
💡Contraceptive Failure Rates
💡Medication Abortion
💡First Trimester
💡Abortion Costs
💡Travel Costs for Abortion
💡Patchwork System
Highlights
Abortions have been legal in the United States for nearly 50 years, but that could change with a potential Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
An early draft of a Supreme Court decision suggests a majority of justices may overturn Roe v. Wade by summer.
The CDC estimates around 630,000 abortions in the U.S. in 2019, but the data set is incomplete and excludes states like California, Maryland, and New Hampshire.
The Guttmacher Institute estimates the number of abortions in the U.S. is around 886,000 per year based on model-based approaches.
No contraceptive method is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, with even surgical methods like vasectomies and tubal ligations having a small failure rate.
Long-acting contraceptive methods like IUDs or implants have less than a 1% chance of failure.
Methods like the pill, patch, or ring have around a 7% failure rate, and condoms have a 13% failure rate.
Medication abortion, commonly referred to as the abortion pill, involves a combination of two pills.
Medication abortions accounted for 54% of all abortions in the U.S. in 2020, surpassing 50% for the first time.
The vast majority of abortions (93%) occur in the first trimester, before 13 weeks of gestation.
States like Texas, Oklahoma, and Idaho have recently passed bans on abortion after six weeks.
An April Wall Street Journal poll found 48% of U.S. adults support restricting abortion after 15 weeks, while 43% oppose it.
The median cost for a first trimester medication abortion in 2020 was around $560, while a surgical abortion was around $575.
The median cost for a second trimester surgical abortion was around $895.
Only 12% of U.S. households could cover a $400 emergency expense, making out-of-pocket abortion costs challenging for many.
The percentage of providers accepting insurance for abortion procedures has declined from 89% in 2017 to 80% in 2020.
Travel costs for abortions, including transportation, hotels, and childcare, can average around $1,000, according to the Bridget Alliance.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned and abortion regulations are left to the states, accessing abortion will become more expensive and difficult, with some people unable to access abortions at all.
Transcripts
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