DENVER — A new survey shows many women are worried about a lack of access to abortion care.
"People are concerned about the accessibility of health care," said Laura Chapin, spokesperson for Cobalt Abortion Fund.
In the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Chapin has seen demand for abortion care and those needing help accessing it surge. Many are turning to providers in Colorado for help.
"The Dobbs decision has upended health care nationwide," Chapin said. "We've seen a huge domino effect. We've seen patients pushed into other states for care, we've seen Colorado physicians that have been completely overwhelmed with patients."
A new KFF survey released Wednesday reports in women of reproductive age, 1 in 7 have had an abortion. Nearly 1 in 10 know someone who's had a hard time getting an abortion since Roe was overturned, per the survey.
Additionally, two-thirds of women surveyed worry abortion bans could put them or a loved one in danger if an abortion is needed.
"I mean, we've all heard the anecdotes, we've seen the stories," Chapin said. "And I think the findings confirm what a lot of us have suspected. And now, they're actually quantifying it and getting it down."
As bans are enacted in some states and legal challenges leave the health care landscape in limbo for others, Chapin said Cobalt is stepping up to help women access this care.
But as demand continues to climb, they're stretched thin.
Cobalt announced Wednesday they'll be implementing a funding capacity limit after patient demand skyrocketed following the Dobbs decision, sending their costs skyrocketing. Since 2022, the fund's costs to cover both travel and medical care have exploded from about $700,000 to a projected $2 million this year.
"What we have definitely seen here in Colorado is a surge of people who can't access abortion here in their own states coming here because they know they can," Chapin said.
This fall, Colorado voters will decide whether to protect abortion rights in the state constitution. So will voters in Arizona and Missouri.
With fear and uncertainty surrounding women around the country, Chapin said she expects this issue will drive many to the ballot box come November.
"I expect abortion to be one of if not the top issue in the elections," Chapin said. "When people are realizing this could happen to me, it could happen so someone I love, someone I know, then they understand that somebody banning it is just not acceptable."