Maryland is characterized as a most protective state by the Guttmacher Institute.
Abortion is protected with no gestational duration limits. Maryland has a shield law protecting abortion providers from investigations or prosecutions by other states. The state constitution protects the right to an abortion.
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 2024, 1.3 million women are of reproductive age in Maryland.
- 8 percent are low income (lower than the national average)
- 11.5 percent are likely eligible for Medicaid because their income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (lower than the national average)
- 58.9 percent are nonwhite (higher than the national average), and Black women are the largest nonwhite group (30.8 percent; higher than the national average)
- 7.7 percent are uninsured (lower than the national average)
Maryland has expanded Medicaid and thus provides coverage to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and pregnant women with incomes up to 264 percent of FPL. It has extended pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage up to 12 months postpartum. Maryland is using state funds to cover abortion for Medicaid beneficiaries, and the state covers family planning services for people not otherwise eligible for Medicaid with incomes up to 264 percent of FPL.
Accessing Abortion Care
In 2026, 26 clinics provided abortions—up from 23 clinics in 2020. This number excludes hospitals and telehealth providers.
Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are organizations—often operated by anti-abortion, nonmedical, and/or religiously affiliated groups—that aim to deter people from certain reproductive health care services, including abortion and some contraceptive methods. In 2025, there were 34 CPCs in Maryland.
Patients face the following restrictions on abortion access:
Abortion providers face the following restrictions that limit their ability to practice:
Accessing Contraceptive Care
According to Power to Decide, around 285,000 women of reproductive age in Maryland live in contraceptive deserts, putting them at increased risk of a mistimed or unintended pregnancy.
Maryland has the following protections for contraception access:
What to Watch For
In November 2024, 76 percent of Maryland voters approved the Right to Reproductive Freedom amendment, establishing a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” including the ability to “prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.” In January 2025, Governor Moore signed a proclamation enshrining this fundamental right in the state constitution.
In June 2025, Governor Moore signed the Public Health Abortion Grant Program into law. The program provides grant funding to providers and abortion funds to cover abortion care costs for anyone receiving such services in the state, using money collected from abortion care fees that Marketplace insurers are required to pay under Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act. However, in December 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released new guidance that has restricted Maryland’s ability to carry out this program.
In May 2026, Governor Moore signed Senate Bill 169 into law, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to provide emergency pregnancy-related care, including abortion care, to stabilize patients with pregnancy-related medical conditions. The law will take effect in October 2026.
In November 2026, Maryland will hold a gubernatorial election. Neither candidate has listed his platform on abortion or reproductive rights on his campaign website. Democratic incumbent Wes Moore has supported and signed multiple protective reproductive health policies into law as governor, including those above. Republican candidate Dan Cox has been endorsed by Right to Life PAC of Maryland and introduced bills to limit abortion access during his legislative term.
Last updated: September 2026
