The abortion pill typically costs between $150 and $800, depending on where you get it. At Planned Parenthood clinics, the average price is around $580. Telehealth services charge significantly less, and financial assistance programs can bring the cost down further. Here’s what shapes the final number and where to find lower prices.
Cost at a Clinic
At brick-and-mortar clinics, medication abortion can run up to about $800. The national average at Planned Parenthood locations is around $580. That fee generally covers the consultation, the two medications used in the process, and basic follow-up guidance. Some clinics also bundle in a pregnancy test and an ultrasound to confirm gestational age, but lab work and blood tests sometimes carry additional charges. If your state requires multiple in-person visits before the procedure, each appointment may add to the total.
The price varies by state, by clinic, and by how far along the pregnancy is. Medication abortion is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days from the first day of your last period). Clinics that serve patients closer to that 10-week limit sometimes charge more because additional monitoring or testing is involved.
Cost Through Telehealth
Online providers have become one of the most affordable options. Aid Access, one of the largest telehealth abortion services, charges $150 for medication sent by mail. That’s roughly a quarter of what many clinics charge. Aid Access also offers a sliding scale for people who can’t afford the full price. You request a reduced rate by email, and the average adjusted price people pay is $68.
Telehealth services don’t accept insurance, so the listed price is what you pay out of pocket. Still, even without insurance, $150 is often cheaper than a clinic visit with coverage, depending on your plan’s copay and deductible. The tradeoff is that you won’t have an in-person exam beforehand, though telehealth providers screen patients through a medical questionnaire and are available for follow-up questions.
What Insurance Covers
Whether insurance helps depends heavily on your state and the type of coverage you have. Private insurance plans vary widely. Some cover medication abortion with a standard copay, others exclude it entirely, and the details are often buried in the fine print of your plan documents.
Medicaid coverage is more clear-cut but deeply uneven. Only 21 states use state funds to cover abortion through Medicaid. Of those, 7 cover all abortions for Medicaid enrollees without restriction. Another 12 cover all or most abortions but require a medical necessity designation from a provider. The remaining 30 states and Washington, D.C., restrict Medicaid coverage for abortion to narrow exceptions: life endangerment, rape, or incest, as required by the federal Hyde Amendment. A handful of states extend coverage slightly further for fetal impairment or to prevent serious, lasting physical harm.
If you’re in a state that restricts Medicaid coverage, you’re likely paying the full cost yourself unless you qualify for other assistance.
Financial Assistance Programs
The National Network of Abortion Funds connects nearly 100 grassroots organizations across the country that help cover abortion costs. These funds vary in size and structure. Some pay a portion of the clinic fee directly, others help with travel or lodging, and some do both. You can search for a fund in your area through the network’s website and apply by phone or online, usually with a quick intake process.
Many clinics also have their own sliding-scale fees or can connect you with local funding sources. If cost is a barrier, it’s worth asking the clinic directly what options are available before your appointment.
Hidden Costs in Restricted States
The price of the pill itself is only part of the picture if you live in a state with an abortion ban. Research published in the American Journal of Public Health tracked how costs changed for people in states that banned abortion after 2022. The findings are striking.
Average travel costs more than doubled, from $179 before a ban to $372 after. Travel time jumped from about 3 hours to over 11 hours on average. Before bans, only 5% of patients needed an overnight stay. After bans, 58% did. Most people (76%) traveled by car, but 20% flew to reach a provider in another state.
Interestingly, average out-of-pocket medical costs for the abortion itself actually decreased after bans, from $545 to $377. This likely reflects patients ending up at clinics in states with better insurance coverage or more competitive pricing. But the savings on the procedure were offset by dramatically higher travel, lodging, and lost-wage expenses. Two-thirds of people in post-ban states said that gathering money for the abortion and travel was a major factor delaying their care, up from 40% before bans took effect. Work and school schedules also became bigger obstacles, affecting 35% of patients compared to 26% previously.
These indirect costs can easily push the total well beyond what the medication alone would have cost at a local clinic. If you’re budgeting for a medication abortion and need to travel, factor in gas or airfare, one or two nights of lodging, meals, and at least one day of missed work.
Comparing Your Options
- Telehealth (like Aid Access): $150 standard, as low as $68 with sliding scale. No insurance accepted. Pills arrive by mail.
- Planned Parenthood clinic: Around $580 on average, up to $800. May accept insurance. Includes consultation and basic services.
- Other clinics: Varies widely by location, typically $300 to $800. Check whether the fee includes ultrasound and lab work or if those are billed separately.
- Retail pharmacy with prescription: Prices vary. Some pharmacies now dispense mifepristone directly with a prescription, but availability depends on your state and the pharmacy’s policies.
The FDA-approved window for medication abortion is 10 weeks from your last menstrual period. After that point, the option shifts to a procedural abortion, which typically costs more. Getting accurate information about pricing and availability early gives you the most options and the lowest costs.