Not a Halloween Trick: The Hyde Amendment Continues to Deny Poor Women Access to Needed Health Care

by Gretchen Borchelt, Senior Counsel
National Women’s Law Center

On this day of frights and ghouls, I want to take the opportunity to remind you all of something really scary: the continued existence of the Hyde Amendment.

The Hyde Amendment was passed by Congress in order to restrict abortion funding for our nation’s poorest women. It prohibits states from using federal Medicaid funds to pay for women’s abortions. The only exceptions are if the woman is pregnant as a result of rape or incest or if her life is in danger. The Hyde Amendment does not allow payment for abortions where a woman’s health is at risk.

This terrifying ban went into effect thirty years ago. To this day, the Hyde Amendment continues to deny thousands of women a year the right to abortion because they are too poor.

Read our fact sheet to learn more about how the Hyde Amendment endangers women’s health, keeps women from receiving comprehensive health care services, and especially burdens women of color. The fact sheet also explains that other groups of women, like federal employees, American Indian women, and women in the military, face similar funding restrictions.

Scary as it is, the Hyde Amendment does not have to ruin Halloween. The Hyde — 30 Years is Enough! Campaign has created a Petition to Repeal the Hyde Amendment. Click here to learn more.