Abortion Bans Linked to Higher Health Insurance Premiums
A 2022 University of Michigan study found that women in states with abortion bans faced increased premium costs.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Women’s Health
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University of Michigan researchers found that women aged 18 to 44 living in states with abortion bans experienced a 5.4% rise in employer-sponsored health insurance premium costs following the 2022 policy changes. The study indicated these increases were significantly higher for Black and Hispanic women.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that insurers may be passing the costs associated with pregnancy complications and maternal health outcomes directly to beneficiaries through higher premiums. These added financial burdens disproportionately affect women in states where abortion access is restricted.
Premium expenditures rose 12.8% for Black women and 13.7% for Hispanic women in states with bans. Nationally, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care costs averaged $20,416 over 2021-2023, with $2,743 in average out-of-pocket expenses.
The players
University of Michigan
This public research university conducted the study on the economic impact of abortion restrictions.
Center for Reproductive Rights
This organization is a global human rights group that provided funding for the research project.
The details
The analysis utilized data from the 2019-2025 Current Population Survey, focusing on women with incomes above 250% of the federal poverty level. Researchers excluded states that expanded Medicaid to isolate the specific economic impacts of abortion restrictions on private insurance costs.
Timeline
The data collection period for the study spanned from 2019 through 2025.
Pregnancy-related cost averages were calculated using data from 2021 to 2023.
Most state-level abortion bans were implemented in 2022.
The Big Picture
The study excludes states that adopted the Medicaid expansion provisions under the Affordable Care Act to cleanly isolate the economic effects of abortion restrictions. This methodological choice highlights how public policy environments shape private insurance costs for reproductive health.
Women in states with bans may face increased out-of-pocket costs and higher monthly premiums for employer-sponsored health plans. These economic shifts can influence decisions regarding healthcare access and the financial stability of households managing pregnancy-related expenses.
The takeaway
The research highlights how restrictive reproductive health policies create measurable financial consequences for women within the private insurance market. Households in states with abortion bans may need to adjust their budgets to account for rising premium costs associated with maternal health.
Further reading
Learn more about the broader implications of these findings in the Women’s Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Stateline.
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