What Every Woman Should Know About Birth Control And Abortion Access Under Trump | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

What Every Woman Should Know About Birth Control And Abortion Access Under Trump

It will be a totally different landscape for reproductive rights.

4
What Every Woman Should Know About Birth Control And Abortion Access Under Trump
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/media

The dust is still settling after Election Day 2016, and the one thing everyone can agree on is that it will be a completely different landscape for women when it comes to accessing reproductive health care in 2017. I decided to research some of the biggest questions about what is and isn't likely to occur over the next 4 years.

Will It Be Illegal To Get An Abortion In The United States?

Probably not. Even if President-elect Donald Trump does follow through on his campaign promise to elect judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion will not be completely illegal in the U.S. Reversing the case would send the issue back to the states, and each one would once again get to decide whether to criminalize the procedure. In order to make abortion illegal in every state, there would need to be a constitutional amendment, which would declare the right to life begins at conception.

How Bad Would It Be If Just Roe v. Wade Is Overturned?

The next president told CBS's Lesley Stahl that if Roe is reversed, it wouldn’t be a big deal since pregnant people would just “have to go to another state.” But it’s really a much bigger deal than that. If states had the ability to decide on their own whether to make abortion illegal, it is likely that about 30 of them would ban the procedure, and most of them would be in clusters. We would be left with abortion mostly legal on the West Coast, as well as most of the Northeast. Meanwhile, almost every state in the Midwest and South would likely criminalize terminating a pregnancy.

What Happens If A Person Lives In A State Where Abortion Is Illegal?

If you have enough money, probably not too much. With a car or the funds for a plane ticket, and the flexibility to be away from home for a few days, you likely will be able to head to New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, or one of the other large cities where abortion is likely to still be available. Wait times for appointments will be the biggest barrier to overcome, and some may not be able to arrange travel and an appointment before the window closes. Also, it will likely become impossible for a minor to get an abortion without involving her parents if she doesn’t live in one of these legal states.

How Would I Pay For An Abortion? Will My Insurance Cover The Cost?

With Congress intent on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, it is likely that any insurance plans that they do offer in their new health-care proposal will not offer any coverage for abortions at all. A number of states previously passed local laws forbidding public insurance (and in some cases even private insurance) plans offered in their states from covering abortion, and that may very well expand in the next year or two. Even worse, it’s likely that these new restrictions are not going to allow exceptions for sexual assault.

What About Birth Control? Is That In Trouble Too?

That will mostly depend on where you live, what sort of insurance you have, where you work or go to school, and a variety of other factors. The president-elect has promised to repeal Obamacare, which made birth control without a co-pay a part of every insurance plan, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan avoided answering the question of whether the Republican replacement will keep that mandate in place. If it is still included in all plans, employers probably will have an even bigger option of opting out by saying they object to it morally. That also means that doctors will be more protected if they don’t want to prescribe contraception, and pharmacists won’t be punished for not filling it. For people who live in small towns with only one or two pharmacies, that could be a big problem.

Is over-the-counter birth control still a thing?

If the Republican majorities are really going to defund Planned Parenthood, and limit or rescind no co-pay birth control, well, they are going to have to do something to try to offset that and not look like they are simply anti-sex. Their answer was a push to make birth control available over the counter. That’s still a good thing, but it also has flaws — it’s more accessible, yes, but can be more expensive in the long run, is less effective than long-lasting reversible contraception like IUDs and implants, and it may not be available at every pharmacy or drugstore.

We can't panic yet, politics is a slow process and nothing will change overnight. In the meantime, maybe grab a small stockpile of emergency contraception. You know, just in case.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

101674
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

18142
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

17058
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments