Health care for women is inferior in red states - why live there?
4 June 2025
Healthcare for women and girls is worse in red states (controlled by the Republican Party), compared to blue states (governed by Democrats). This isn’t about blaming healthcare professionals but about the political decisions made by Republican officials. These policymakers have chosen to prioritize the rights of a fertilized egg over the rights of women and girls, even when the woman or girl isn’t pregnant yet.
I have no personal vendetta against these states - I’ve visited many and know they have many positive aspects. However, as a physician and attorney, I feel compelled to speak out about the dangers faced by women and girls living in or visiting these states:
Maternal Care Deserts: Red states are home to more areas lacking proper maternal care facilities, creating “maternal care deserts” where women and girls struggle to access essential services.
Skewed Maternal Mortality Data: Many red states either don’t collect accurate on maternal mortality or manipulate the statistics, distorting the true scope of the problem.
Abortion Access: Most red states severely restrict voluntary abortions, making it difficult, if not impossible, for women and girls to seek this care. This includes denying abortion even when a woman’s life is at risk, leading to documented deaths.
Rape and Incest Exceptions: Even in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, abortion access is often denied, despite the common occurrence of pregnancy due to sexual violence.
Medication Abortion Bans: Red states are pushing to ban abortion pills, which are a critical option for many women seeking abortions.
Criminalizing Abortion Assistance: Some states, like Texas, are criminalizing anyone who helps a woman or girl access an abortion out of state.
Criminalizing Miscarriage: Red states are increasingly criminalizing miscarriages.
Criminalizing Pregnancy: Some red states are criminalizing pregnancy in general.
IVF Restrictions: Access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) is becoming more difficult in red states, with many imposing policies that limit or outright ban the procedure.
Workplace Pressures: There is a cultural push in red states to pressure women to stay at home and not participate in the workforce, reinforcing outdated gender roles.
Distorting Reproductive Health Education: Red states are attempting to mandate that public schools teach misinformation about women’s reproductive health, often spreading harmful or inaccurate narratives.
Limitations on Medical Care for Non-Pregnant Women: Women and girls may not receive adequate treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases and gastric ulcers, even if nonpregnant because the treatment might damage an embryo or fetus if the patient becomes pregnant.
If you're interested in learning more about these issues, Jessica Valenti’s Abortion Every Day provides valuable insights, although it makes these red states seem even more horrible.
When choosing a place to live, families must consider many factors. However, the healthcare of the women and girls in your family should be a top priority. In many red states, Republican policies are deteriorating the quality of care available and that’s a reality we can’t afford to overlook.
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Having been raised in a blue state and lived in another blue state… now in a red state. Can’t even find a primary care Dr that starts by looking you in the eye and asking you questions about what is going on with you. It’s wild. I can’t imagine being if child bearing age