The abortion policy in the United States has been fiscally segregated for decades, even before the Roe v. Wade court ruling of 1973. Wealthy women have had monetary advantages above poor women who were forced with the risk of endangering their health in an effort exercise their right to choose. It is sad to realize that not much has changed since this ruling either. With the Hyde Amendment in place parallel injustices are still taking place.
Through the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid is prohibited in regards to insurance coverage in the majority of abortion cases. This amendment specifically singles out poor women (who are more often than not women of color) making it economically unjustified and racially ignorant.
This amendment has had an infectious affect on numerous other government managed health programs including the Affordable Care Act, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the military’s TRICARE program and many more. The publicized reasoning for such measures is that tax dollars should not be funding abortions. However, the more truthful alleged justification is to make abortion as inaccessible as possible.
Title: Separate and Unequal: The Hyde Amendment and Women of Color
Publication: Commondreams.org , December 6, 2010
Author: Jessica Arons and Madina Agenor http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/06-3
Student Researcher: Ashley Bjorge, Sonoma State University
Faculty Evaluator: Andrea Allen, UC Davis OBGYN