Iowa’s abortion ban creates costly travel for women seeking care, data shows

After a 74% drop in abortion services, Iowans increasingly cross state lines for care, while Illinois and other neighbors shoulder a regional burden.

Tuesday marks one year since a law that bans most abortions in Iowa went into effect, and new data reported by providers show the impacts of the ban have been felt far and wide.

Since Iowa Republicans banned abortions after six weeks, the number of abortions in the state dropped by 74%, according to Planned Parenthood North Central States.

But patients are still seeking care. They’re just traveling much farther to get it. 

According to new data from the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF), the organization has fielded support requests from over 870 Iowans whose care needs ran counter to Iowa’s ban. Of those, 75% traveled out-of-state for care.

In partnership with the Iowa Abortion Access Fund, CAF helps patients cover the cost of travel and other needs related to their abortion appointments, including lodging and childcare expenses. In just the last year, that expense grew from $40,000 to $80,000. In one case this February, a single patient needed $19,000 in assistance to get care out of state.

In Illinois alone, CAF reported a 200% increase in the number of Iowans seeking abortions over the past year. 

“These aren’t just numbers, they’re people navigating impossible situations,” said Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “They’re parents, students, your neighbors, your friends, your community members—forced to travel sometimes hundreds of miles for a basic healthcare need. … Abortion bans and restrictions do not stop abortions. They just force people to access care under extreme pressure.”

Iowa’s ban landed in a state already facing a healthcare crisis. Iowa’s infant mortality rate jumped 30% from 2021 to 2022 and 40 of 61 rural counties lack OB-GYN units. Black women in Iowa are six times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.

The six-week ban includes exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, but critics say these exceptions have proven ineffective in practice. In order to qualify, the law requires that the incident be reported to law enforcement or a public health agency within 45 days for rape and 140 days for incest. While lawmakers increased the time child victims of abuse has to report their abuser, this window remains limited. 

Polling shows 59% of Iowans oppose the six-week ban. But unlike other states, Iowa doesn’t allow citizen-initiated ballot measures. Changing the law would likely require action from the same Iowa Legislature that passed it in the first place in 2023.