When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – the landmark decision that recognized a constitutional right to abortion – it stripped millions of people across the country of their fundamental human right to reproductive autonomy and emboldened anti-abortion extremists to foreclose rights even further.
While abortion is a fundamental legal right in New Jersey, many people cannot access the reproductive care they need because financial barriers continue to push care out of reach for too many in our state, especially communities of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and people who are low-income.
To begin dismantling these barriers, New Jersey lawmakers must pass A4601/S3452.
What A4601/S3452 Does
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Requires health insurance providers to cover a range of family planning and reproductive health care services, including abortion, without any out-of-pocket costs to the patient.
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Ensures that any pregnancy-related health care services administered or funded by the state comprise the full range of reproductive health care services, including abortion.
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Codifies regulations related to scope of practice, ensuring that all qualified health care professionals are authorized to provide or assist in abortion care.
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Prohibits medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions against health care professionals for providing legally protected health care services, including abortion and gender-affirming care.
Why A4601/S3452 is Important
At its core, A4601/S3452 is guided by the principles of equity and justice. At a time when millions of people across the country are being stripped of their fundamental human right to make decisions about their lives and bodies, New Jersey must be a leader in ensuring that the right to abortion care is accessible for all who need it.
The gap in abortion access is a racial and economic justice issue. Barriers to reproductive health care reinforce structural inequities that overwhelmingly harm communities of color and undocumented community members. We must guarantee that abortion care is not just legal, but accessible and affordable for all.
