How Much Does an Abortion Cost?
Abortion Costs Vary Widely
The cost of an abortion in the United States can vary widely depending on the type of abortion performed, the length of the pregnancy at termination, and where a woman goes to receive an abortion.
The median cost of a first-trimester abortion in the United States in 2021 using the “abortion pill†was $568, while a surgical abortion was $625. For second-trimester abortions, costs increased to $775 and higher.1
Does Insurance Cover Abortion?
Insurance coverage for abortion varies for both private and public health insurance programs. You will need to check with your specific health insurance provider to see if abortion is covered under your plan. Whether abortion is covered through your insurance provider will depend on the state you live in and what type of public or private health insurance you have.
Between 2017-2022, the cost of first-term abortions increased, but the number of health insurance providers and facilities that cover abortion costs decreased.2
What Is the Self-Pay Cost for an Abortion?
According to a 2022 research study, the out-of-pocket or self-pay costs for an abortion are:3
- Chemical abortion (abortion pill): $560
- First-trimester surgical abortion: $575
- Second-trimester surgical abortion: $895
How Much Are the Travel Costs to Receive an Abortion?
Since the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion is no longer legal across the United States as a whole. As of January 2023, 24 states have banned abortion or are likely to do so.4 Depending on how far you may need to travel for an abortion, travel costs to receive an abortion can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Some companies now offer abortion and travel cost assistance through their health insurance plans or separate funds. However, because these companies generally have self-funded health insurance plans that allow them to cover abortions, it is unclear if businesses that reside in states where abortion is illegal can be held criminally liable. Additionally, some employees may require a large deductible to be met by the employee before abortion coverage takes effect.5
Want to learn more about what the cost of an abortion could be for you? Talk to a nurse now to get all your questions answered.
1 Kaiser Family Foundation, “Key Facts on Abortion in the United Statesâ€, Retrieved August 2023 from https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/report/key-facts-on-abortion-in-the-united-states/.
2 Ushma D. Upadhyay, et al, “Trends In Self-Pay CHarges And Insurance Acceptance For Abortion In The United States, 2017-20â€, Health Affairs: Vol. 41, No. 4, Published April 2022. https:wwdoi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01528.
3 Ibid., Health Affairs: Vol. 41, No. 4, Published April 2022. https:wwdoi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01528.
4 Guttmacher Institute, “Six Months Post-Roe, 24 US States Have Banned Abortion or Are Likely to Do So: A Roundupâ€, Retreived August 2023 from https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/01/six-months-post-roe-24-us-states-have-banned-abortion-or-are-likely-do-so-roundup.
5 Kaiser Family Foundation, “Employer Coverage of Travel Costs for Out-of-State Abortionâ€, Retreived August 2023 from https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/employer-coverage-travel-costs-out-of-state-abortion/.