Last updated on December 19, 2025

Iowa is characterized as a most restrictive state by the Guttmacher Institute.

Abortion is banned after around six weeks gestational duration (with exceptions for preservation of the mother’s life or physical health, lethal fetal anomalies, and certain cases of rape or incest).

In the US, people who are not white and people with low incomes are more likely to experience barriers to reproductive health care access.
 

IN THIS STATE

As of 2023, 633,000 women¹ are of reproductive age in Iowa.

• 12.3 percent are low income (similar to the national average)
• 16.9 percent are likely eligible for Medicaid because their income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (similar to the national average)
• 20.0 percent are nonwhite (lower than the national average), and Hispanic people are the largest nonwhite group (8.4 percent; similar to the national average)
• 6.3 percent are uninsured (lower than the national average)
   

Iowa has expanded Medicaid and thus provides coverage to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and pregnant women up to 380 percent of FPL. Iowa has extended pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage up to 12 months postpartum. Iowa does not utilize state funds to cover abortion for Medicaid beneficiaries with limited exceptions. The state does not have a Medicaid family planning waiver but runs its own state family planning coverage program, which prohibits patients from accessing care from a provider that also performs abortions.

Accessing Abortion Care

In 2020, six clinics provided abortions. In 2025, three clinics provided abortions. This number does not include hospitals or telehealth providers.

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are organizations—often operated by anti-abortion, nonmedical, and/or religiously affiliated groups—that aim to deter pregnant people from certain reproductive health care services, including abortion and some contraceptive methods. In 2023, there were 53 CPCs in Iowa. These centers receive state funding.