Mifepristone is available through certified healthcare providers, select retail pharmacies, and telehealth services that can mail it directly to you. Where you can actually get it depends on which state you live in, how far along your pregnancy is, and whether your provider or pharmacy holds the required federal certification. The FDA approves mifepristone for ending a pregnancy up to 10 weeks (70 days from the first day of your last period).
Telehealth Services That Mail It to You
Telehealth has become one of the most common ways people access mifepristone. The process is straightforward: you schedule a video visit with a certified clinician, and if you’re eligible, the medication ships to your home in discreet packaging, typically arriving within one to three business days. The shipment usually includes mifepristone, misoprostol (the second medication taken 24 to 48 hours later), plus anti-nausea and pain medications.
Planned Parenthood offers telehealth abortion care in several states, with a follow-up visit scheduled one to two weeks after your appointment to confirm the process is complete. Their medical teams are available around the clock for questions. Other telehealth providers operate similarly, though each has its own list of states they serve.
The key limitation: you generally need to be located in a state where medication abortion is legal at the time of your consultation, and you need a mailing address in that state. Some states have passed shield laws that protect providers who prescribe via telehealth to patients across state lines, but this landscape shifts frequently. Plan C (plancpills.org) maintains an up-to-date directory showing which telehealth options are available in each state, and ineedana.com offers a similar state-by-state legal guide.
Retail Pharmacies in Select States
CVS and Walgreens both received federal certification to dispense mifepristone in 2023, but availability is limited to specific states. Walgreens began dispensing in Pennsylvania, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Illinois. CVS started in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Both chains plan to expand to all states where abortion pill distribution is legal, though that rollout has been gradual.
Walgreens has said it will not distribute mifepristone in states with unclear legal frameworks. CVS has said it will monitor state law changes and dispense where legally permitted. At these pharmacies, you still need a prescription from a certified provider. The pharmacies cannot fill a standard prescription written by a doctor who isn’t certified under the federal program. Retail pharmacy dispensing is currently in-person only, not by mail.
Clinics and Medical Offices
Abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood health centers, and some OB-GYN offices dispense mifepristone directly during an appointment. This was the original and still most widely available route. During a clinic visit, a provider confirms the pregnancy is intrauterine (not ectopic, which is a contraindication for mifepristone), estimates gestational age, and walks you through the two-pill process.
Hospitals can also dispense mifepristone, though in practice most people access it through outpatient clinics or telehealth. If you prefer an in-person visit, searching for your nearest Planned Parenthood location or using the ineedana.com directory will show providers in your area.
Who Can Prescribe It
Mifepristone isn’t available through a regular pharmacy prescription. The FDA requires all prescribers to be certified through a special program called the Mifepristone REMS. To get certified, a healthcare provider must review the full prescribing information and sign an agreement confirming they can accurately assess pregnancy duration, diagnose ectopic pregnancies, and either provide or arrange access to surgical care if complications arise. This includes ensuring patients can reach facilities equipped for blood transfusions if necessary.
Certified prescribers include physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in many states. The certification itself isn’t difficult to obtain, but the requirement means not every doctor or clinic can write this prescription. If you’re unsure whether your provider is certified, ask them directly or use one of the directories mentioned above.
What It Costs
A medication abortion (which includes both mifepristone and misoprostol, plus the consultation) can cost up to around $800, though it’s often less. The average cost at Planned Parenthood is about $580. Many insurance plans cover it, but coverage varies by state and insurer. If you’re uninsured or your plan doesn’t cover the procedure, the National Network of Abortion Funds connects people with organizations that provide financial help, covering part or all of the cost along with logistical support like travel or lodging if needed.
Why Your State Matters
State law is the biggest factor in where and how you can access mifepristone. Some states ban medication abortion entirely, others allow it with restrictions like mandatory waiting periods or in-person visits, and others have actively expanded access through telehealth-friendly policies. Eight states have enacted shield laws that explicitly protect providers who deliver care via telehealth regardless of where the patient is located, meaning a clinician in one of those states can legally prescribe and mail mifepristone to patients in restrictive states. The legal risks in these situations fall on the provider’s side, not the patient’s, though enforcement approaches vary.
Because these laws change frequently, checking a current resource like Plan C or ineedana.com before starting the process will save you time and help you find the fastest route to a certified provider. Both sites are updated regularly and organize options by state, including cost estimates and turnaround times for mail delivery.