Medicare does not cover most abortions. Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment has banned the use of federal funds for abortion services under Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health programs. There are only three narrow exceptions: pregnancies that endanger the life of the pregnant person, and pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. If your situation doesn’t fall into one of those categories, you’ll pay the full cost out of pocket.
What the Hyde Amendment Means for Medicare
Congress reauthorizes the Hyde Amendment every year as part of the spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. It applies to all parts of Medicare, including Part A (hospital coverage), Part B (outpatient coverage), Part D (prescription drugs), and Medicare Advantage plans. No version of Medicare can use federal dollars to pay for an abortion outside the three exceptions, regardless of which state you live in or what type of plan you have.
Medicare Advantage plans, which are run by private insurers, are required to cover the same benefits as traditional Medicare. They cannot offer broader abortion coverage using federal funds. Some plans may structure supplemental benefits differently, but none can override the Hyde Amendment restriction.
When Medicare Does Cover Abortion
If your pregnancy qualifies under one of the three exceptions, Medicare covers the procedure like other medical services. What you pay depends on whether it’s performed in an outpatient setting or requires a hospital stay.
For an outpatient procedure at an ambulatory surgical center, the total cost averages around $2,089 based on Medicare’s 2026 payment rates. Medicare pays about $1,671, leaving you with roughly $417 in cost sharing. If the procedure is done at a hospital outpatient department, the total cost jumps to about $3,658. Medicare covers around $2,926, and your share averages $731. These figures include both doctor fees and facility fees but may not capture every additional charge, such as lab work or ultrasounds ordered alongside the procedure.
If the procedure requires an inpatient hospital stay, Part A coverage kicks in. You’d pay the Part A deductible of $1,736 for that hospital benefit period, then nothing for the first 60 days. The 20% coinsurance on doctor services while you’re an inpatient still applies. A Medigap (supplemental) policy, if you have one, could reduce or eliminate these out-of-pocket costs.
What You’ll Pay Without Coverage
For the majority of Medicare beneficiaries seeking an abortion, the procedure won’t be covered. In that case, you’re paying the full price yourself. Costs vary by type of procedure and how far along the pregnancy is.
A medication abortion (using pills) costs up to around $800, with an average price of about $580 at Planned Parenthood health centers. A first-trimester surgical abortion runs in a similar range, averaging about $600 at Planned Parenthood and up to $800 at other clinics. These prices typically include the basic visit, but additional costs for bloodwork, ultrasounds, or follow-up care can add to the total. Later procedures cost significantly more, sometimes several thousand dollars, and fewer providers offer them.
Medication Abortion and Part D
The two drugs used in medication abortion, mifepristone and misoprostol, fall under the same Hyde Amendment restrictions that apply to surgical procedures. Medicare Part D plans cannot cover these medications for the purpose of ending a pregnancy unless the case meets one of the three exceptions. Misoprostol is sometimes prescribed for other medical conditions like stomach ulcers, and Part D may cover it in those contexts, but not when it’s prescribed for abortion.
Options for Covering the Cost
If Medicare won’t cover your abortion, several paths exist for managing the expense. Abortion funds are nonprofit organizations that help people pay for procedures and related costs like travel and lodging. The National Abortion Federation operates a hotline that connects callers with financial assistance and can help locate providers. Many local and regional funds serve specific states or metro areas.
Some clinics offer sliding-scale fees based on income, which can bring costs well below the listed price. Planned Parenthood health centers, for example, adjust pricing and can help you explore payment options. If you’re on Medicare due to disability rather than age, you may also qualify for Medicaid in your state. Seventeen states use their own funds to cover abortion through Medicaid regardless of the Hyde Amendment, which could provide a secondary coverage path depending on where you live.
Paying out of pocket at a clinic is almost always less expensive than a hospital setting. If you don’t qualify for Medicare coverage, going directly to an abortion provider rather than through a hospital system will typically keep costs in the $580 to $800 range for a first-trimester procedure.