Working part-time, she couldn't afford the hundreds of dollars she would need for an abortion and had to turn to a trusted friend to help cover the costs.
New Jersey and nine other states require health insurers to cover abortion services, but it is the only state among that group that doesn't bar out-of-pocket costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.
A medication abortion typically costs $600-$800, while a surgical procedure could cost up to $2,000, according to Planned Parenthood.
It also coincides with a yearslong effort to expand abortion services in the state, as Democratic officials sought to blunt the impact of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe.
New Jersey has already enshrined abortion rights as law, increased funding for abortion services and required regulated health insurance plans to cover the procedure.
Persons:
Dawn Ericksen, “, ”, ’, Phil Murphy, Roe, Wade, Murphy, Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, ” Murphy, Teresa Ruiz, it's, ” Ruiz, John DiMaio, Sen, Declan O'Scanlon
Organizations:
New Jersey's Democratic, Democratic, Supreme, Legislative Republicans
Locations:
TRENTON, N.J, New Jersey, U.S, . New Jersey, Roe . New Jersey, . California, Jersey