Does health insurance cover abortions?

An abortion procedure, including a medication abortion (the abortion pill) and a surgical abortion, may or may not be covered by your health insurance plan. The answer depends on your state's reproductive health care laws and restrictions, the type of health insurance, insurance company policies and the timeframe of the pregnancy. Some states restrict abortion, while others allow women to have access to abortion procedures depending on the situation. Laws have been changing rapidly since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, as of June 2023:

  • 11 states have laws restricting coverage for abortion in all private insurance health plans, including ACA plans.
  • Eight states require coverage in all private insurance policies.
  • 25 states restrict abortion coverage and plans offered through health insurance exchanges, with limit s to coverage that may include cases involving only one or more of the following exceptions: life endangerment, threat to the pregnant person's health, rape, incest, fetal abnormality, and "substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function."
  • 21 states restrict insurance coverage of abortion for public employees in health insurance plans.

ACA marketplace plans may or may not cover abortion services. In more than half the states, health insurance plans sold in the exchange aren’t allowed to cover abortions except for circumstances involving rape, incest, or the mother's life being in danger.

Find out the specifics of your state’s abortion restrictions and laws.

Also, on the federal government level, the Hyde Amendment is a Congressional provision that bars using federal funds to pay for abortions except to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.

How much is an abortion with insurance?

If you have insurance that covers an abortion procedure, you could pay an amount ranging from nothing to a few hundred dollars out of pocket, depending on the type of procedure and your policy's copay or coinsurance requirements.

Without insurance, a medical abortion (effective only within a pregnancy's first 10 weeks) can likely cost between $300 and $700, and a surgical abortion (after the first 10 weeks) can cost more than $3,000.

The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the median cost of an abortion is $500 at 10 weeks gestation versus $1,195 at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Organizations like Planned Parenthood also offer services at no to low cost if you qualify. Contact Planned Parenthood health centers for more information about those options.

Health insurance companies that provide abortion coverage

Many health insurance companies provide coverage for abortion services if state laws allow it and if the insurer chooses to cover these services. Some health insurance companies may even pay for treatment that takes place in another state if laws force the patient to travel for care.

Since most health insurance companies operate in more than one state, the coverage available will vary by state, making it difficult to say definitively that one company or another does cover abortion. Check with your health plan to find out what's covered.

How are abortions paid for?

If you have health insurance that covers abortion services and live in a state that allows for this coverage and the services, you can have an abortion procedure done and submit a claim for the costs through your insurance company.

Your health insurance company will likely pay the provider directly. Alternately, you may pay for the procedure out of pocket if you don't have health coverage.

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Preferred-provider Organization (PPOs)

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Silver is the second most popular plan in the ACA exchanges, with 35% of people with a Silver plan. Silver has lower premiums than any plan except for Bronze. However, it has lower out-of-pocket costs than Bronze. Silver plans pick up 70% of the costs, while members pay 30% The average single coverage in a Silver plan is $481 monthly and $1,179 for a family plan.

Bronze is the most popular type of plan in the ACA exchanges, with 41% of members with a Bronze plan. These plans have the lowest premiums, but also the highest out-of-pocket costs in the exchanges. Bronze plans pick up 60% of the costs, while members pay 40%. The average single coverage monthly cost in a Bronze plan is $440 and $1,080 for a family plan.

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Platinum plans have the highest premiums but the lowest out-of-pocket costs. So, you pay more for the coverage initially but less than other plans when you need health care services. Platinum plans pick up 90% of the costs, while members pay 10%, Not many health insurers offer Platinum plans. Only 2% of members in ACA plans have a Platinum plan, so you may have trouble finding one. The average monthly premiums for single coverage in a Platinum plan is $706 and the average family coverage costs $1,460.

Gold plans have lower premiums than Platinum, but higher premiums than Silver and Bronze. Gold also has lower out-of-pocket costs than Silver and Bronze, but higher than Platinum. Gold plans pick up 80% of the costs, while members pay 20%. The average monthly premium for a single Gold plan is $596. Family coverage averages $1,426 per month.

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Health insurance FAQs

Can you get an abortion without insurance?

Yes, you can have an abortion procedure done if you lack health insurance coverage and your state allows it. But be prepared to pay out-of-pocket costs that can be a lot more expensive than if you had insurance coverage for these services.

Does Medicaid pay for abortions?

Medicaid covers most or all medically necessary abortions in 17 states. However, in 32 states and the District of Columbia, Medicaid will only provide abortion coverage in instances of rape, incest, or life endangerment. South Dakota restricts public abortion coverage to cases of life endangerment.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO cover abortion?

Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO will cover some abortion services in certain states, depending on the plan and reason for the procedure.

Does Cigna insurance cover abortion?

Cigna will cover some abortion services in certain states, depending on the plan and reason for the procedure.

Does UnitedHealthcare cover abortion?

UnitedHealthcare will cover some abortion services in certain states, depending on the plan and reason for the procedure.

Does Medicaid cover abortions in Texas?

No. Texas will not pay for abortions via its Medicaid program, except in limited circumstances such as incest or rape.

Will an abortion show up on insurance?

If you have an abortion procedure done and submit an allowable claim through your insurance company, that claim should be reviewed, verified, and reimbursed to the extent indicated in your policy.

Does insurance cover the abortion pill?

Depending on your plan, the state you live in, the reason for the procedure, and how far along the pregnancy is, your health care insurance may cover the abortion pill (also called a medical abortion).