Director's Policy Corner

In our ongoing series, we dive into different policies that shape the women's health landscape in Oregon and beyond. This edition focuses addressing access to abortion care services.

In Oregon, abortion is safe, legal and accessible. The state has a long history of protecting abortion rights: 

• 1969: Oregon passed a law allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest or severe fetal issues. 
• 1973: The Roe v Wade decision made it illegal to restrict abortions in the first three months of pregnancy.  
• 1983: Oregon lawmakers made abortion a right under the state constitution. 

Since then, Oregon has continued to pass new laws to protect abortion while voting down efforts to limit access. For example, Oregon voted against proposals to cut state funding for abortion services or to require notifying parents of abortion services. Oregon remains the most protective state for abortion rights in the country.  

The cost barrier

Though legal in Oregon, cost remains a significant barrier to care. More than half of all abortions in the United States are paid for out of pocket. Use federal funds for abortions is not allowed. However, 16 states, including Oregon, use state funds to pay for abortions through Medicaid. However, federal law does not allow immigrants access to Medicaid. 

How Oregon overcomes access barriers

In 2017, lawmakers passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA)to protect Oregonians’ access to: 

• Abortion 
• Family planning services 
• Postpartum care 

RHEA ensures all low-income residents, regardless of their citizenship status, can access care. Lawmakers also set aside $15 million to help abortion providers hire more staff, buy equipment and expand services when other states implemented abortion bans. 

“Oregon’s proactive approach to abortion access sets a powerful example for the nation,” says Maria Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., OB-GYN and director of the OHSU Center for Reproductive Health Equity, “Ensuring that all individuals can exercise their reproductive rights with dignity and without barriers is important.”  

Payment for abortion care in Oregon

Cost should never be a barrier to care. Regardless of your insurance coverage or citizenship status, there are payment options to cover the cost of abortion services in Oregon: 

• Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is the state’s Medicaid program. OHP covers abortions for Oregon residents who make below a certain income. OHP can also help pay for travel costs, lodging and meals.  
• The Reproductive Health Access Fund (RHAF) covers abortion services for free for Oregon residents who do not qualify for OHP and are not U.S. citizens.  
• Oregon law requires all state-regulated health insurance plans cover abortions at no cost to members.  
• If your health insurance is through an employer with religious objections to abortion, the Abortion Access Plan will pay for your abortion. 

Oregon has strong protections for abortion access and provides programs to anyone who cannot receive aid. As other states pass more restrictive abortion laws, Oregon continues to expand and protect reproductive rights.