T. R. Reid, in his March 14 editorial, published under the title "How Health Care Discourages Abortion", opined that a woman is more likely to not undergo an abortion if she already is aware that she and her child would have all the access to medical care.

It has been revealed that, in fact, all those pregnant women who end up disproportionately obtaining abortions in the US, i. e., women who are living in poverty or near poverty, are eligible to gain access for health-care coverage through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, as are all their children.

Across every state in the country, pregnant women are eligible to gain Medicaid or CHIP, in case they live in families with incomes that are below the 133% of the federal poverty line. However, much higher eligibility limits are set by most states. For example, the District sets its limit at 300%.

In every state, children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP as well, mostly at income levels which are double or triple of the poverty line.

In case the "dubious contention" shared by Mr. Reid were true, chances are that we would have already noticed the effects across the nation.