The abortion pill typically costs between $150 and $800, depending on where you get it. The national median for an in-person medication abortion is $563 out of pocket, based on 2023 data from abortion-providing facilities across the country. But virtual clinics and online options can bring that number down significantly, sometimes to as little as $25.
Cost by Type of Provider
Where you go matters more than almost any other factor in what you’ll pay. At Planned Parenthood, the average cost is around $580. Independent clinics and hospital-based providers tend to fall in a similar range, with the national median sitting at $563 for a first-trimester medication abortion.
Virtual clinics, which prescribe the pills through a telehealth visit and ship them by mail, charge considerably less. The median cost through a virtual clinic is $150. These services became much more common after the FDA approved a telehealth pathway for prescribing the medication, and they now handle a growing share of medication abortions nationwide.
Online pharmacies listed on the resource site Plan C offer the lowest prices, starting at $25 for pills by mail without a clinician consultation and going up to around $150 when a clinical consultation is included. The tradeoff at the lowest price point is that you won’t have a provider guiding you through the process, which matters more for some people than others.
What You’re Actually Getting
The “abortion pill” is actually two medications taken over two days. On the first day, you take one pill (mifepristone) by mouth. Then 24 to 48 hours later, you take four tablets of a second medication (misoprostol) by placing them between your gums and cheeks. The first drug stops the pregnancy from progressing, and the second causes the uterus to contract and empty. This regimen is FDA-approved for use through 10 weeks of pregnancy.
The quoted price from most clinics covers both medications. But it may or may not include the initial consultation, any lab work, or a follow-up visit to confirm the abortion was complete. Ask upfront what’s included so you’re not caught off guard by a separate bill for an office visit or blood test.
Why Prices Vary So Much by State
State regulations can push costs higher even when the medical care itself is straightforward. Twelve states require an ultrasound before any abortion, and six of those require the provider to display and describe the image to you. Fourteen states require a fetal cardiac activity test beforehand. These mandated extras add time and expense to the visit, even though ultrasounds are not considered medically necessary before most abortions.
Some states also impose mandatory waiting periods, which can mean two separate clinic visits instead of one. If you’re traveling across state lines because your home state restricts abortion, travel and lodging costs can easily match or exceed the price of the medication itself.
Insurance and Medicaid Coverage
Whether insurance covers your medication abortion depends almost entirely on your state and your plan. Federal law (the Hyde Amendment) prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from paying for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. However, 21 states use their own Medicaid funds to cover abortion care beyond those narrow federal limits. If you’re enrolled in Medicaid in one of those states, your out-of-pocket cost could be zero or close to it.
The states that cover abortion through Medicaid are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. About half of these states require a provider to note a medical necessity designation, but in practice, coverage is broadly available for Medicaid enrollees seeking medication abortion.
Private insurance coverage is less predictable. Some employer-sponsored and marketplace plans cover abortion, others exclude it explicitly, and a handful of states require private insurers to cover it. Call the number on your insurance card and ask directly. If you’d rather not have the claim appear on a shared insurance statement, paying out of pocket or using a virtual clinic may be worth considering for privacy reasons.
Financial Help If You Can’t Afford It
Abortion funds exist in nearly every state and can cover part or all of the cost. The National Abortion Federation Hotline (1-800-772-9100) connects callers with financial assistance and can help identify local funds. Many clinics also offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
Practical support organizations can help with costs beyond the pill itself, like gas money, bus tickets, childcare, or a night in a hotel if you’re traveling. These groups are typically volunteer-run and vary by region, but the National Abortion Federation and local fund networks can point you to what’s available in your area.
If cost is a barrier, virtual clinics at the $150 price point offer the same FDA-approved medications used at in-person clinics. For someone early in pregnancy who is otherwise healthy, this is often the most affordable route that still includes a clinician consultation.