Abortions Can Get Expensive—Here's What You Need to Know
There's literally a million and one things to consider around getting an abortion. Like, which method you prefer. The physical, mental, and emotional toll it may take. How you'll care for yourself during said tolls. If you should tell a trusted loved one. And likely the biggest factor: If you can even afford it.
When Roe v. Wade's overturn outlawed abortions in certain parts of the country, it made access to the healthcare that much harder—now, more and more folks may have to travel states over to get the medical procedure.
“In those states, you’re going to see closures of clinics, people not able to get care, people struggling and scrambling to get the resources they need, and traveling to another state,” says Rachel Fey, vice president of policy and strategic partnerships at the nonprofit Power to Decide.
The added travel expenses of lodging, rental cars, gas, flights, food, and more really start to add up, with these additional costs ranging anywhere from $500 to $3,000+. And we haven't even mentioned the actual money it takes for the procedure itself, which tends to be hundreds—and sometimes thousands—of dollars, especially depending on when you receive care, since the cost usually increases with gestational age, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
I know, managing your reproductive health should never feel this complicated and overwhelming. But the good news is there are still a lot of options for abortion care, and some that won't completely wreak havoc on your wallet. Keep reading for everything you need to know on where to go, how much $$$ to set aside, and if having insurance will play a role when planning to get an abortion.
Wait, real quick: Remind me which states outlawed abortion?
Back in 2022 when Roe was first revoked, there were 13 states that either immediately outlawed abortion, or did so within 30 days of the overturn, thanks to their "trigger laws." Those states were: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Caitlin Gustafson, MD, a family physician and abortion-care provider in rural Idaho, has seen the impacts of Roe's overturn firsthand. "Patients [in Idaho] are traveling further than ever—to Oregon, Washington, Montana, Nevada, Utah—and incurring all the costs and impacts on their lives for the care they need," she said. "And often, it's happening later in their pregnancies due to the lack of options."
This is just further proof as to how abortion access is very much a racial and social justice issue, too. Restrictions and bans disproportionately impact Black people, people of color, and poor people who often receive lower quality health care to begin with, according to recent research compiled by the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. “The people who are going to face the greatest barriers are the people struggling to make ends meet because of systemic economic racism,” Fey says. “So on top of all of this, this is a racist policy.”
Gotcha. So how much does an abortion cost?
The price of an abortion varies depending on how far along your pregnancy is. Then, there's the actual procedures themselves, which vary in cost. Here are the main types and how much they'll set you back:
Medication abortion
If you've ever heard your doctor talk about a "medical" or "non-surgical" abortion, they basically just mean the abortion pill. The process, though—which essentially induces an abortion—actually involves taking two separate (and very hard to pronounce) pharmaceutical pills: mifepristone, which blocks the hormone that allows an embryo to attach to the uterus and grow, and misoprostol, which is taken one to three days later to empty the uterus, basically causing a super-heavy period. There's been lots of federal drama around these drugs the last few months, but as of now, they're both still legal. A medication abortion is best only within the first 10 to 11 weeks of pregnancy.
According to Planned Parenthood, a medication abortion may cost up to $750, but that will vary depending on your insurance status, state of residence, and access to other funding sources. Abortionfinder.org has a state-by-state guide to help you find a nearby clinic that can help locate a medication abortion provider and discuss potential financial assistance. There's also Hey Jane, a virtual clinic that provides abortion pills to patients through the mail, and they also accept insurance and sliding-scale pricing.
If the thought of getting abortion meds in your mailbox kinda freaks you out, that's understandable, especially since a doctor's visit isn't involved. But rest assured, the abortion pill is one of the most common—and safest!—ways to end an unwanted pregnancy. More than half of abortions in the United States now happen with this method. And if you wanna hear from five IRL women who used Hey Jane to secure their abortion pills (which, in total, has been 30,000 pregnant people!), and how much they paid for it, look right below:
Surgical abortion
These are another way of saying "in-clinic" abortions, which happen up to 19 weeks and six days after your last period, according to Planned Parenthood. There are two different types of surgical abortions:
Vacuum aspiration abortion
This method uses gentle suction to remove the fetus from the uterus, and typically is for pregnancies between 14 to 16 weeks, according to Planned Parenthood. It's the most common type of in-clinic abortion care, and the entire experience usually happens in under an hour. The costs can run anywhere from $500 to more than $2,000, depending on how far along the pregnancy is.
Dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions
D&E abortions are similar to aspirations in that they also use suction, but a D&E involves medical tools to completely empty the uterus, including residual tissues from the uterine lining. These tend to be less common than aspiration abortions, and you can expect a range of about $1,000 to $2,000, with costs getting into the high thousands the further along the pregnancy is, based on info from Planned Parenthood. (And JFYI, sedation for the procedure is included in that price post-14 weeks).
Does insurance cover abortion?
Well, it’s complicated. According to Guttmacher Institute, eight states cover abortions if you have private insurance: California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington. And up to 25 other states ban or restrict insurance covering abortion. The restrictions allow insurance to be used for an abortion in cases of life endangerment, incest, and rape.
If you have private insurance (say, through your employer, parent, or guardian), call your provider directly and ask if abortion care is covered under your policy. Be sure to get clarity on whether there are any restrictions based on abortion methods.
Can I use Medicaid to cover abortion costs?
For those with government health care plans, whether through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act, your insurance may cover abortion, depending on the state you live in. Medicaid, for instance, can cover abortion, but only in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. The catch is that some clinics may not be Medicaid providers.
“So what happens in practice for those plans is that on the back end, the plan separates your individual contribution from that of the federal government premium subsidy and ensures that it’s not applied to the abortion coverage,” Fey explains. “Abortion is healthcare. It’s basic healthcare. But in practice, that is how it works.”
Again, the best way to know whether your insurance plan covers abortion care is to contact your provider directly.
How can I cover abortion costs without health insurance?
Without insurance, you have options for covering the cost of an abortion. Here are a few resources to visit for support:
Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project
If you go to a clinic, be sure to ask if sliding scale payments are available to help cover costs, as well as if they have connections to abortion funds. Either way, there's still a possibility that you can access abortion care for a reasonable cost. This fight isn't over.
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