What Is The Cost Of An Abortion?

According to Planned Parenthood, the cost of an abortion in the United States has been relatively constant in recent years. However, since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in June, access to abortion has been drastically reduced, opening the way to state-level limitations on the practice.

As of August 2022, residents of at least 26 states have no or extremely restricted legal access to abortion services. Those who want to go to another state for the medical operation will incur greater fees, while medication abortion (which presently accounts for more than half of all abortions) is expected to expand in popularity.

What Exactly Is An Abortion?

Abortion is a medical treatment used to terminate a pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the great majority of abortions — 92.7% in 2019 — are done within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortions are classified into two types: surgical (or procedural) abortions and medication abortions. A surgical abortion is a safe and successful medical treatment, and most women who have one may resume their usual activities the next day. Another safe and successful method of abortion is medication abortion, sometimes known as "the abortion pill," in which two separate tablets are delivered to end the pregnancy.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, a person's ability to have an abortion has varied greatly depending on how many weeks they've been pregnant and where they live. You may use our state-by-state abortion access guide to find out what health care is available in your region.

What Is The Cost Of A Surgical Abortion?

While the average cost of a surgical abortion is less than $750, the actual cost varies based on how long a person has been pregnant at the time of the abortion.

According to a University of California, San Francisco research, the national median cost of an abortion in 2021 was:

•A first-trimester abortion costs $625.

•A second-semester procedure abortion costs $775.

What Is The Cost Of An Abortion Pill?

The cost of a pharmaceutical abortion varies according to the length of the pregnancy, your insurance, and where the pills are purchased or administered.

According to UCSF, the national median cost of medication abortion in 2021 will be $568. Depending on where you reside, you may get the abortion pill — which is actually two tablets — through a health clinic, doctor's office, or Planned Parenthood. Following a telemedicine visit during the epidemic, it became feasible to be administered medication for abortion. The tablet has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for usage up to 10 weeks into pregnancy.

States that have limited abortion access have targeted both surgical and pharmaceutical abortion, limiting access to both techniques. Because U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has stated that his government will defend state restrictions on the use of mifepristone, one of the two components in most pharmaceutical abortions, continuing availability of this method of abortion remains a source of contention.

Is Abortion Covered By Insurance?

That's a difficult issue to answer because conditions change virtually every day. In certain areas, insurance still provides coverage for what has already become an unlawful operation. Abortion is allowed in other states, however, many health insurance policies may not cover the operation.

What we do know is as follows:

•No health insurance plan is required by federal law to cover abortion.

•With the exception of abortions following rape, incest, or life endangerment, no federal monies can be used to pay for abortions.

•Technically, all states are obligated to cover abortions that fall within certain federal exclusions.

Abortion coverage is frequently included in private insurance plans and employer-based insurance policies. Some insurance plans exclusively cover abortion in situations of rape, incest, or life-threatening circumstances. And, if abortion is outlawed in a specific state, insurance coverage is meaningless.

Here is some information on abortion coverage per state:

•Abortion coverage is prohibited in 26 states for health insurance plans provided through the public marketplace. Except for Louisiana and Tennessee, all states offer exclusions for abortions caused by rape, incest, or risk of life.

•No insurance plan, public or private, is authorized to cover abortion in ten states: Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah, with limited exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the pregnant person's life.

•Meanwhile, private insurance plans must include abortion coverage in eight states: California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

•Furthermore, in four states — California, New York, Oregon, and Washington – all state-regulated healthcare plans, including those sold via the Affordable Care Act marketplace, must cover abortion.

Where Can I Have An Abortion?

In the months since federal abortion protections were repealed, some states have worked to safeguard the right to abortion, while others have moved to prohibit access to abortion in nearly all cases. It's a fluid scenario that's evolving all the time.

The American Civil Liberties Union, a non-profit organization, updates its state-by-state abortion availability map on a regular basis.

The following data is current as of August 2022.

Abortion is legal and accessible in the following states, implying that no state-level restrictions exist: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Virginia all have changing abortion laws.

And these states either outright prohibit abortion or make it incredibly difficult to acquire one: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are some of the states represented.

Is It Legal For Me To Travel To Seek An Abortion?

Abortion can be obtained across state boundaries. There are currently no laws prohibiting such behavior.

Some states, however, have sought to prohibit individuals from traveling for abortions. Experts expect that more states will defy tradition and begin penalizing people who go to another state to accomplish something unlawful on their own.

Consider receiving legal guidance about your state's abortion regulations before traveling to receive an abortion. Lawyers who volunteer to answer inquiries online for the American Bar Association provide free, private legal assistance.

If you decide to travel for an abortion, don't forget to factor in all of the prospective expenditures. Lodging, petrol, meals, child care, pet sitting, time off work, and bus or plane tickets are all things to consider.