More Iowans leave state for abortion care as demand for help surges

Since Iowa’s near-total abortion ban went into effect in July 2024, the number of residents seeking abortion care outside the state has surged dramatically. So has the number of people turning to abortion funds for help.

It’s a story that has become all too familiar in Iowa since last year: People seeking abortions are forced to go out of state, because they find out they’re pregnant too late to legally get care in Iowa.

When the Iowa Supreme Court decided to uphold the state’s six-week abortion ban last year, it gutted what little remained of in-state access. The law, which offers only narrow exceptions, has left many people unaware of their pregnancy until it’s too late, as the majority of women don’t find out that they’re pregnant until around the six-week mark. As a result, demand for out-of-state appointments has surged, driving up costs for the care and straining financial resources.

According to the Chicago Abortion Fund and based on estimates from regional abortion funds, since July 2024: 

• 147 Iowans traveled to Illinois for abortion services
• 84 Iowans traveled to Nebraska for abortion services
• 130 Iowans traveled to Minnesota for abortion services
• 7 Iowans traveled to Kansas for abortion services

“With Omaha sitting right on the Iowa border, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of Iowans seeking care in Nebraska,” said Shelley Mann, Executive Director of Nebraska Abortion Resources (NEAR). “Our clinics are already stretched thin, and Iowans are often forced to travel even farther due to limited appointment availability in our state. This is what abortion bans do—they don’t stop people from needing abortions, they just make access harder and more expensive.” 

It follows that the number of Iowans who need help covering the cost of their abortion care, along with the necessary travel expenses, has dramatically increased.

About 625 Iowans received financial support from abortion funds outside the state in 2024, compared to 194 in 2023 and 316 in 2022.

Since the ban took effect in the state, Midwest abortion funds have provided over $250,000 in direct assistance to Iowans seeking abortion care compared to under $100,000 in 2023.

The Iowa Abortion Access Fund has seen a 21% increase in Iowans needing help paying for abortions compared to 2021.

“The picture in Iowa is clear: The ban has not stopped Iowans from getting abortions, but it has made access more expensive and delayed care,” said Leah Vanden Bosch, Development and Outreach Director with the Iowa Abortion Access Fund. “We are just beginning to understand the full harm this ban has caused. It’s pushing people out of state, raising costs, and making abortion riskier. It’s also driving physicians away, worsening maternal healthcare in Iowa.”

The impact of Iowa’s abortion ban is being felt across the region, placing significant financial strain on abortion funds and increasing wait times for appointments in some neighboring states.

When Iowa’s ban took effect, the Chicago Abortion Fund and Iowa Abortion Access Fund formed a partnership to ensure that Iowans facing barriers to care had immediate support. 

“In just the last year, we’ve handled over 16,000 support requests and distributed $5 million in direct assistance, the most in our 40-year history,” said Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “This is what abortion funds do: We step up, we organize, and we make sure people get the care they want, need, and deserve.

“We are not waiting. We are not slowing down. Abortion funds have always been here, working together across state lines to get people to care—because access to abortion is not just about laws, it’s about the people who need care right now. No matter the barriers, we will find a way,”