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.
“The process for submitting abortion procedure claims is broadly similar to insurance claim submissions for other types of procedures,” notes Martucci. “What happens next — the extent to which the insurer will review, verify, and reimburse your claim — will vary significantly based on the company, the provider, and your plan.”
Does Medicaid Cover Abortions
This mainly depends on the US State you currently reside in. Today Medicaids coverage for abortion procedures is more and more limited by federal and state regulations as well as other insurance coverage regulations.
In many states, thousands of distressed women in need of abortion services dont get Medicaid coverage year in year out. Its so bad in some states that even when the pregnancy is deemed a threat to their life they still wont get coverage.
However, some US States go beyond and above these restrictions by the federal government and use State funds to pay for abortions for women enrolled in Medicaid.
I Dont Have Any Health Insurance Will Ppgny Still See Me
Yes. If you do not have health insurance, you can still come to PPGNY. We will help you enroll in public or private insurance, or help you access financial support for the services we offer. If you are not able to obtain health insurance, our centers may still be able to offer you a lower fee, depending on your income and the services that you need. No one will be denied access to services due to an inability to pay. We offer a sliding fee scale that is based on your family size and income.
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Do I Pay For Abortions
Yes, at least some. If you live in the United States, regardless of what state you live in, at least some of your tax dollars go to abortions. All Americans directly pay for at least some abortions through federal tax dollars. All Americans also help indirectly fund abortion through tax funding of abortion providers.
If you live in one of the states that cover abortions beyond the provisions of the Hyde Amendment, a much more significant portion of your tax dollars goes directly toward abortions. You also fund more abortions outside of cases such as rape or threat to the mothers life than if you live in one of the other states.
Paying For An Abortion Without Insurance
Planned Parenthood is one of the largest resources for family planning in the United States. Planned Parenthood professionals often charge less for services based on income. The center accepts major health insurance carriers. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for a discounted fee scale under Title X. Planned Parenthood can also help you sign up for additional programs that can help pay for services such as the Family Planning Benefit Program or Medicaid.
Outside of Planned Parenthood assistance, you may qualify for coverage under your states Medicaid program to pay for services at an abortion clinic. Otherwise, you will likely need to pay out-of-pocket at the abortion clinic itself. There may be options available to you such as community health centers, depending on where you live.
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Elective Abortion Coverage Is Much More Common In States That Run Their Own Exchanges
Six statesOregon, New York, California, Washington, Illinois, and Mainerequire all state-regulated plans to cover abortion services. Oregon, Illinois, and Maine use HealthCare.gov, while New York, California, and Washington have fully state-run exchanges.
But although 26 states have laws that ban or restrict abortion coverage for plans sold in their health insurance exchanges, only two of those states have fully state-run exchanges. The other 24 all use HealthCare.gov. And its clear that abortion coverage is much more widely available in states that run their own exchanges.
As of 2021, there are 15 fully state-run exchanges , including DCs exchange. The other 36 states use HealthCare.gov.
In a new rule addressing billing procedures for abortion coverage , HHS noted that based on 2020 plan data :
- Across the 38 states that use HealthCare.gov, there were 23 insurers offering a total of 338 plans in nine states that provided coverage for non-Hyde abortion services .
- Across the 13 fully state-run exchanges, there were 71 insurers offering 1,129 plans in 12 states that provided coverage for non-Hyde abortion services .
- Roughly 3.04 million people were enrolled in on-exchange plans that included non-Hyde abortion coverage in 2019 .
How Much Is An Out
Many women wonder if abortions are free. The answer is that abortions are not free not at Planned Parenthood or any other abortion clinics. In fact, abortion is a billion-dollar industry with an abortion procedure costing each client hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the type of abortion and gestational age of the pregnancy. There are also many hidden costs you should be aware of before scheduling your abortion appointment.
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While All Eyes Are On The Us Supreme Court We Must Remember That Pennsylvanias Constitution Explicitly Guarantees Equality On The Basis Of Sex And Prohibits Laws That Confer Different Burdens Or Benefits On Men And Women
Susan J. Frietsche, senior staff attorney at the Womens Law Project
Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt
The recent award-winning short film, Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa tells the gut-wrenching story of low-income women calling Pennsylvanias Womens Medical Fund seeking help to pay for abortion health care.
All my savings that I had are going towards my insulin and making sure my kid is set, said one caller, who had survived one life-threatening pregnancy already and had just lost her job. I have $100 and enough to cover my rent for this coming month.
But the counselor had only $19 left to give out that day, so she asked the caller to try again the next day, when she hoped more money would be available.
Since 1985, Pennsylvania has banned Medicaid insurance coverage for abortion with few exceptions, and low-income women have suffered. Unable to use their insurance for abortion health care, they have had to rely on private abortion funds that often cannot meet all callers needs.
Last Wednesday, Pennsylvania-based abortion providers and reproductive rights lawyers led by the Womens Law Project and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed their brief in a lawsuitAllegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Servicesasking the states Supreme Court to strike down the Pennsylvania ban on Medicaid funding for abortion as a violation of the Equal Rights Amendment and equal protection provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes In Your Area
Furthermore, depending on the state that you live in, there may be laws that regulate whether abortion services are covered through Obamacare health insurance, Medicaid or under a private health care policy. Although there are coverage differences, every state does allow you some access to abortion, but you may need to pay for the service out-of-pocket.
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If You Have Current Illinois Medicaid Coverage:
Your insurance will cover an abortion 100% You pay nothing. Sedation, medications, lab testing, ultrasound, and RhoGAM if you have a negative blood type are all included, with the procedure. This includes Medicaid coverage through CountyCare, Blue Cross Community Health, Meridian, IlliniCare, and Molina Healthcare.
What Other Costs Should I Consider When Deciding If Abortion Is Right For Me
Like with any serious medical procedure, there will likely be other costs that arise surrounding your abortion.
Some additional costs to consider include:
- Lab-quality pregnancy testing
- An ultrasound scan to confirm your pregnancy
- Additional medications
- Emergency surgery in case of abortion complications
- Any income lost while youre away for your abortion or recovering
- Travel and accommodation if necessary
Post-abortive counseling and support
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Does State Farm Pay For Rental Cars
If you rent your car from enterprise or hertz, state farm will be billed directly. Chances are, if you already have state farm car insurance with collision and comprehensive coverage, itll carry over to your rental car.
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State Actions That Restrict Access To Medicaid
Medicaid, the largest source of public funding for family planning services, has long been barred by the Hyde Amendment from covering abortion, except in very limited circumstances. But longstanding federal law requires states to cover family planning services in their basic Medicaid programs and allows states to provide Medicaid-financed family planningonly coverage for low-income individuals who do not qualify for full Medicaid. Under both types of coverage, the federal free choice provision guarantees Medicaid enrollees the right to receive family planning services from any willing and qualified provider.1
Notwithstanding this right, some states have excluded providers that offer abortion services from participating in Medicaid, even though these providers are sometimes the largest, or only, local provider of comprehensive family planning services. By seeking to exclude providers that offer abortions outsidethe Medicaid program, these actions jeopardize womens access to essential family planning and preventive health services withinMedicaid. States have pursued three primary strategies to exclude providers, emboldened by supportive actions from the Trump administration.
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How Does Medicaid Cover Abortions
Not too long after the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, anti-abortion politicians sought to find ways to restrict abortion as much as possible. Illinois Congressmember Henry Hyde admitted during a floor debate, I would certainly like to prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a middle class woman, or a poor woman. Unfortunately, the only vehicle available is theMedicaid bill. Since 1976, an appropriations bill rider known as the Hyde Amendment has restricted federal funding for abortion services except in the narrow circumstances of rape, incest, or life endangerment. The current version of the Hyde Amendment only allows Medicaid coverage when a patient suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Four years after its first passage, the U.S. Supreme Court in Harris v. McRae upheld the Hyde Amendments restrictions on federal funding.
I would certainly like to prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a middle class woman, or a poor woman. Unfortunately, the only vehicle available is theMedicaid bill.
Does Medicare Cover Abortion
Hundreds of thousands of abortions are performed each year in the United States. Although Medicare is often associated with individuals over the age of 65 who are likely past their reproductive years, many people under the age of 65 qualify for Medicare due to disabilities. Medicare benefits may include abortion coverage if specific exceptions and criteria are met for coverage.
What is an Abortion?An abortion can occur in two main ways: using an abortion pill or through an in-clinic procedure. Both of these methods can be highly effective, and each has their own benefits. In most cases, you can get an abortion five to six weeks after your last menstrual cycle, and it is best to schedule your procedure within the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy if possible to avoid any potential complications.
MedicationThe abortion pill, also known as a medication abortion, requires the use of two pills taken up to 48 hours apart. The first of these pills contains mifepristone and the second contains misoprostol. Mifepristone causes your body to stop utilizing progesterone, which is one of the main hormones produced during pregnancy. This stops the pregnancy from progressing any further.
Medicare Benefits Provide Coverage for Abortions
If you have questions regarding your coverage, please contact your plan directly for more information.
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How Much Does An Abortion Cost
An abortion costs up to $750 in the first trimester, and up to $1,500 later in pregnancy. The price of an abortion depends on where you get it , and whether or not you have health insurance that will cover some or all of the cost. The cost also varies based on how long youve been pregnant a second-trimester abortion usually costs more.
Your abortion may be free or low cost with health insurance, but some insurance plans dont cover abortions. You can call your insurance provider directly to find out their policies.
Some government health insurance plans in certain states cover abortion, but others dont. And some plans only cover abortion in certain cases. Your local Planned Parenthood can give you more information about coverage in your state, or other funds that can help you pay for an abortion.
Planned Parenthood works to give the services you need, whether or not you have insurance. If youre worried about cost, call your local Planned Parenthood health center to see if they can connect you with health care that fits your budget.
How To Pay For An Abortion
Health care clinics and providers can help you determine if you have insurance coverage and if abortion benefits are included in that coverage. They can also help you find out if you are eligible for a state program or help you find other ways to pay for your abortion.
We suggest you call the clinic you’re interested in and:
- Let them know if you are unsure of how to pay or unsure of your insurance status. They can help you understand your coverage, the cost of service, and if help is available.
- Let them know if you have concerns about confidentiality. They can help you keep your information private.
Private Insurance
State law requires all state-regulated plans to cover abortions if they cover maternity services.
If your health coverage is through a Providence Health Plan purchased through the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange or a Providence Large Group Health Plan provided through a Washington State employer, the Department of Health will pay for your abortion services. See our Increasing Access to Reproductive Choice page for specifics on how to obtain this coverage.
State Programs
Washington State provides abortion coverage for people who meet eligibility requirements.
Other Assistance
If you are not eligible for Apple Health and do not have private health insurance, you might qualify for assistance from a clinic or the Northwest Abortion Access Fund. We encourage you to discuss your situation with an abortion provider.
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Federal And State Laws Regarding Coverage Or Payment For Abortion
Almost one million women in the U.S. have an abortion every year.1 Federal and state laws, as well as insurers coverage policies, shape the extent to which women can have coverage for abortion services under both publicly funded programs and private plans. Women who seek an abortion, but do not have coverage for the service, shoulder the out-of-pocket costs of the services. The cost of an abortion varies depending on factors such as location, facility, timing and type of procedure. The median cost of an abortion at 10 weeks gestation is $500, whereas the median cost of an abortion at 20 weeks gestation is $1195.2 Though the vast majority of abortions are performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, the costs are challenging for many low-income women.3,4 Approximately 5% of abortions are performed at 16 weeks or later in the pregnancy.5 For women with medically complicated health situations or who need a second-trimester abortion, the costs could be prohibitive. In some cases, women find they have to delay their abortion while they take time to raise funds,6 or women may first learn of a fetal anomaly in the second trimester when the costs are considerably higher.7 According to the Federal Reserve Board, forty percent of U.S. adults do not have enough savings to pay for a $400 emergency expense.
Medicaid
Figure 1: One Half of Reproductive Age Women on Medicaid Live in a State that Restricts Abortion Coverage, 2017
Private Insurance
ACA Marketplace Plans
What Can I Do To Reduce Taxpayer Funding Of Abortions
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