Societal Costs of Total Abortion Bans in 14 US States After Dobbs

Objectives. To estimate societal costs, comprising personal and external costs, of total abortion bans in the first year of enactment for 14 states after Dobbs overturned the constitutional right to abortion. Methods. 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. Results. 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-Dobbs abortion care delivery, including increased use of telemedicine. Conclusions. Abortion bans are economically burdensome. Our findings provide compelling evidence that restoring and protecting abortion access would improve economic outcomes. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(5):683-691. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308411).