Last month I saw a woman at our neighborhood health center for a follow-up after an abortion she had at a local clinic. Her husband lost his job, and she was the only breadwinner in the family. Her job did not provide health benefits. She terminated the pregnancy because she could not afford to raise another child in her financial state.

She was completely guilt-ridden over her decision. Not wanting to get pregnant again, she vowed never to have sex again. She was adamant. I tried to reason with her that that is not usually a plan that works well long-term. She has medical conditions that preclude the use of hormonal contraception.

It is time for reproductive health care—and health care in general—to be available to all.

The best option for her was a non-hormonal IUD. She agreed but had not been able to afford the cost of the device or the placement. There is a program for low-income women, but she hadn’t qualified the three previous times she applied. She cried as she told me how unfair it was. She said that her niece on public assistance has no job but was able to get the IUD without question. It is time for reproductive health care—and health care in general—to be available to all.