Societal Costs of Total Abortion Bans in 14 US States After <i>Dobbs</i>.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To estimate societal costs, comprising personal and external costs, of total abortion bans in the first year of enactment for 14 states after <i>Dobbs</i> overturned the constitutional right to abortion. <b>Methods.</b> We developed a model to estimate personal and external costs associated with total abortion bans in the first year after bans were enacted. We conducted a literature review to identify model inputs and included states with total abortion bans as of September 1, 2024. <b>Results.</b> We estimated in the year after enacting abortion bans, 104 369 people could not access in-clinic abortion in 14 states with total abortion bans, costing $339.6 million. Specifically, travel to another state for in-clinic abortions cost $104.7 million (30.8%), pregnancies ending in miscarriage or stillbirth cost $1.7 million (0.5%), and carrying pregnancy to term cost $233.2 million (68.7%). Apart from these costs, we estimated $9.4 million in decreased costs attributable to changes in post-<i>Dobbs</i> abortion care delivery, including increased use of telemedicine. <b>Conclusions.</b> Abortion bans are economically burdensome. Our findings provide compelling evidence that restoring and protecting abortion access would improve economic outcomes. (<i>Am J Public Health.</i> 2026;116(5):683-691. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308411).