Mifepristone and misoprostol are available through abortion clinics, certified retail pharmacies, and telehealth services that can mail the pills directly to you. The FDA approves this two-pill regimen for ending a pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation, and it is 98% effective when used in the first trimester. Where you can actually get the medications depends on your state’s laws, since some states restrict or ban medication abortion entirely.
Abortion Clinics and In-Person Providers
The most established way to get mifepristone and misoprostol is through a clinic visit. Planned Parenthood locations, independent abortion clinics, and some OB-GYN offices stock the medications and can prescribe them on-site. A provider will confirm how far along the pregnancy is, explain the process, and either hand you the pills or send a prescription to a certified pharmacy.
To find a nearby clinic, several verified directories are available:
- AbortionFinder.org lists clinics searchable by zip code with up-to-date availability.
- Planned Parenthood’s website (plannedparenthood.org) shows locations offering medication abortion.
- National Abortion Federation Hotline (877-257-0012) provides referrals by phone and can also connect you with financial assistance.
- INeedAnAbortion.org offers localized, simplified information based on where you live.
Telehealth and Abortion by Mail
In many states where abortion is legal, you can get a prescription through a video visit or secure online messaging without ever going to a clinic. Services like Planned Parenthood’s telehealth program offer two options: a live video appointment with a provider or an asynchronous “e-visit” where you answer questions through a patient portal. After the visit, the medications ship to your home, typically arriving within 2 to 3 business days.
Several other telehealth-based organizations operate on a similar model. Plan C (plancpills.org) maintains a regularly updated guide that compares telehealth options by state, including pricing and shipping timelines. Because state laws differ widely, most telehealth providers can only prescribe to patients located in states where medication abortion is legal. Some will require you to be physically present in that state at the time of the appointment.
Retail Pharmacies
Since January 2023, the FDA has allowed certified retail pharmacies to dispense mifepristone for the first time. Both CVS and Walgreens have begun filling prescriptions in select states. CVS started in Massachusetts and Rhode Island with plans to expand to other states where the drug is legal. Walgreens began dispensing at some stores in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois.
Not every pharmacy location carries mifepristone. The pharmacy must complete a federal certification process, and the prescriber who writes your prescription must also be separately certified under the FDA’s safety program. You cannot walk in and buy mifepristone over the counter. You need a prescription from a certified provider, and the pharmacy must be able to ship with tracking or dispense in a timely manner. If your local pharmacy isn’t certified, your provider can direct you to one that is, including certified mail-order pharmacies that ship to your door.
How the FDA’s Prescribing Rules Work
Mifepristone is regulated more tightly than most prescription drugs. The FDA requires a safety program (called REMS) that adds several steps before you can receive it. Your prescriber must be certified and must review a patient agreement form with you that explains the risks. You sign that form and receive a copy along with a medication guide. The pharmacy dispensing your pills must also be certified under the same program.
These requirements apply whether you get the pills in a clinic, from a retail pharmacy, or through a mail-order service. Misoprostol, the second medication in the regimen, does not carry the same restrictions and is widely available at standard pharmacies.
Cost and Financial Help
A medication abortion can cost up to around $800, though the average at Planned Parenthood is about $580. The price varies depending on your insurance, your state, and whether you use a clinic or telehealth service. Some insurance plans cover medication abortion fully, while others cover none of it.
If cost is a barrier, abortion funds exist in most states and can help cover part or all of the expense. The National Network of Abortion Funds (abortionfunds.org) connects people with local organizations that provide financial help and, in many cases, logistical support like transportation, lodging, and childcare. The National Abortion Federation’s hotline (877-257-0012) also offers direct financial assistance.
State Laws and Legal Protections
Your ability to get these medications depends heavily on where you live. Some states ban abortion entirely or prohibit mailing abortion pills, while others have passed laws specifically designed to protect access. The legal landscape shifts frequently, so checking a resource like AbortionFinder.org or Plan C for your state’s current status is essential before scheduling an appointment.
Several states have enacted “shield laws” that protect providers who prescribe and mail pills to patients. These laws prevent the state from cooperating with investigations or lawsuits brought by other states that restrict abortion. Governors in at least 12 states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington, have signed executive orders reinforcing these protections. In practical terms, this means telehealth providers based in shield-law states may be more willing and able to serve patients, though they still generally require you to be in a state where abortion is legal when you receive care.
At the federal level, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2024 in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine that the groups challenging mifepristone’s availability lacked legal standing to sue. That decision preserved the FDA’s 2016 and 2021 rules that expanded access, including allowing mail delivery and extending the gestational limit to 10 weeks. Mifepristone remains FDA-approved and federally legal, though individual states can still restrict it within their borders.
Safety Profile
Mifepristone and misoprostol together are one of the most studied drug regimens in reproductive medicine, backed by more than 100 research studies. Serious complications occur in roughly 2 out of every 1,000 medication abortions, a rate that makes the regimen statistically safer than common medications like penicillin. Research published in peer-reviewed journals has found that self-managed medication abortion provided through online telemedicine is both safe and effective, with outcomes comparable to in-clinic care.