Many women pay out of pocket for this procedure as insurance providers may not cover the service. In addition, a women's confidentiality may be compromised if insurance is utilized for this purpose. Public funding of abortion is primarily supported through state funding and few states allow abortion funding. Federal monies i.e., Medicaid, cannot be used to finance an abortion unless a woman's life is in danger or if the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape. In some states, women under eighteen are precluded from abortion without parental consent or notice.
Some states ban abortion in public facilities.
In addition, the merging of hospital systems with religious-based hospital systems may also limit abortion services to women. Intimidation factors associated with the abortion facility such as violent attacks on abortion clinics and public protests place the lives of women and clinic personnel in danger. Since 1977, there have been approximately 2,100 reported instances of violence against abortion providers including six murders and fifteen attempted murders. There is a shortage of abortion providers. The location of facilities providing abortion services to women poses a barrier to services.