I read somewhere that half of all abortions are cases where they used contraception, but it failed.

That's another reason birth control needs to be funded/subsidized for those who need it. From what I understand -- Guttmacher can tell you more -- the spendier methods are those less likely to fail.

Thank you for pointing out the absolutely ridiculous argument that because you had sex you deserve to be burdened with a child. Even if birth control was 100% available and effective (which you correctly note it is not) the choice should still be available, especially since it is only people who can't afford $450 who have to live with the consequences of making a decision that most people make with some regularity (to have sex).

I am writing from the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), a coalition of over 100 community-based groups in 42 states that offer financial assistance to low-income women seeking abortions.

In response to "When it comes to abortion, women literally can't afford to wait" (and the original AlterNet article, “Abortion Hotlines Feel the Crunch”) NNAF is pleased to see such detailed attention to the lack of economic access to abortion. At the same time, we want to offer some important clarifying information about funding for abortion.

First, we are concerned that readers will get the mistaken impression that abortion funds only help women to pay for abortion when they have extenuating circumstances like rape, incest, or the woman’s health or life is in danger.

This is simply not the case. Abortion funds around the country regularly help thousands of low-income women who are not in these extenuating situations. We want women to know that being poor IS enough – that they can call an abortion fund for help whatever their circumstances might be.

The AlterNet article also suggests that women are more likely to be helped if they are farther along in their pregnancy. Ms. Joffe quotes a National Abortion Federation hotline volunteer who says, “’It helps if they are farther along in pregnancy rather than earlier.’” This is absolutely not true of abortion funds. In fact, 2nd trimester abortions are so costly that it is far more difficult to raise enough money for those cases. NNAF encourages women to call our member funds at any point in their pregnancy, the sooner the better.

Comprised of 108 abortion funds around the country, the National Network of Abortion Funds is the primary organization assisting women in need of abortion funding in the U.S. Abortion funds have been offering abortion funding for women in need, along with financial counseling, transportation assistance, and lodging help, for the past 30 years, since the passage of the Hyde Amendment which took away most public funding for abortion.

While the Network is not able to help every woman in need, each year we raise over $2 million and help more than 20,000 women and girls across the country. Women in need of assistance can find a fund in their area by visiting our website at www.nnaf.org or calling our office at (617) 524-6040.