Medicaid is Expanding and Helping KY Women

Tomorrow, KHJN will be presenting the right not to parent tenet of reproductive justice at a Medicaid Expansion education training in Berea, KY at the public library, 6 pm! 

Why?

The answer is much deeper than one can blog about. On the short side, it ain't covered by Medicaid, so it ain't talked about. So, that's where we are stepping in, gratefully, to Kentucky Voices for Health for lending us a platform. 

What's important about an opportunity to talk in a mainstream circle about ending an unintended pregnancy is that we can undo the abortion stigma with evidence. For instance, this graphic shows that 1 in 3 women will have an abortion. Cultural stigma found on blogs, statuses, and websites dedicated to restricting abortion tells us that some people will be thinking that NO ONE will need this information because women in KY don't get abortions. It simply isn't true. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 4,430 women obtained abortions in KY in 2008. With the rise of Medicaid expansion, women/people need to be clear about this fact: Medicaid will not pay for it except life endangerment, rape, or incest apply. Who will?

If you are on Medicaid or planning to enroll, the likelihood of you having the financial means to afford an abortion, which ranges from $500-$1200, usually on short notice, is pretty slim. And this is why Kentucky Support Network exists -- to lift the social, economic, and geographic barriers low-income individuals face when choosing to end a pregnancy. KSN will refer information on adoption or pregnancy, too, but, since we are talking about Medicaid and abortion services, it needs to be said with no apologies. 

Meanwhile, I made some kick-ass handouts to give away at the presentation and when we stop at Eastern Kentucky University's campus to hopefully recruit some volunteer educators and base supporters! If you are down with reproductive justice, support our work to give RJ workshops, hangouts, and support policies that uphold the reproductive justice framework. 

Kick-ass handouts.