Abortion cost, what affects the price and who pays

Prices differ a lot between countries and between clinics in the same country. The main factors are the same everywhere.

• Coverage, whether public health insurance or private insurance pays all or part of the cost
• Residency, because many public systems cover residents but charge patients from abroad
• Stage of pregnancy, since care later in pregnancy usually costs more and may take more than one visit
• Method, medication abortion or procedural abortion, and the type of anesthesia
• Extra tests such as an ultrasound or blood tests, and any follow-up
• Type of provider, public hospital, private clinic or nonprofit clinic
• Travel, accommodation, childcare and time off work, which can cost more than the care itself

In many European countries abortion within the legal limit is covered fully or partly by public health insurance for residents. In France, for example, abortion care is covered in full by the national health insurance. In Great Britain the NHS provides abortion care to residents without charge at the point of care. In other countries coverage depends on the grounds, the stage or income, and some require a co-payment.

Patients traveling from another country usually pay the full price as private patients, because public coverage is tied to residency or insurance in that country. Clinics that accept patients from abroad generally publish their prices. Each country card shows whether care is covered for residents, what patients from abroad typically pay and the source of that range.

• Coverage for residents differs by country and is shown on each card
• Patients from abroad usually pay privately
• EU rules on cross-border care do not guarantee coverage of abortion in another country

In the United States many people pay for abortion out of pocket. Coverage depends on the type of insurance and on the state.

Private insurance

Some private plans cover abortion and some states require plans regulated by the state to cover it, while other states restrict coverage. Your insurer can tell you what your plan includes.

Medicaid

Federal law, known as the Hyde Amendment, limits federal Medicaid funding for abortion to cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the pregnant person. Some states use their own funds to cover abortion for people enrolled in Medicaid, and others do not. The state card shows how coverage works in each state, where that is part of its law.

Paying without coverage

Prices vary by clinic, stage of pregnancy and method, and they rise later in pregnancy. Clinics usually tell you the price before the appointment. Ask what is included, such as the ultrasound, pain relief and follow-up.

Our abortion laws by state map links to each state card.

We do not publish a single global price, because any such number would hide large differences. Instead, each country and state card shows a typical range for medication and procedural abortion, with the type of source it comes from, such as the national health service, the national health insurance or the published price lists of clinics, and the date we verified it. Clinic cards in the directory show the price range the clinic publishes.

• Ranges on country and state cards, each with its source
• Price ranges on clinic cards, taken from the clinic's own information
• Filter the abortion clinics directory by price range

If the cost is a barrier, help exists. Abortion funds and practical support organizations can help pay for care, travel, accommodation and childcare, and some clinics offer reduced prices or payment plans.

• Abortion funds that help pay for care where it is legal
• Practical support organizations that help with travel and accommodation
• Clinics that publish reduced prices or payment plans
• The National Abortion Federation Hotline (United States and Canada), 1-800-772-9100, which can help with information and funding

For people traveling from a country or state where abortion is restricted, travel and accommodation can be the largest part of the cost. Earlier care is usually shorter and cheaper, and booking early also gives more choice of clinics. Our travel for abortion guide explains which places accept patients from abroad, until which week and how support organizations help.