How to Get Financial Help for an Abortion

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2006, at least 846,181 women in the U.S. had abortions. Some states do not report abortion rates consistently, so the actual number was probably a bit higher than that. Women seek abortions for many reasons. Some may simply feel unable to care for a child right now, some may have health problems that make pregnancy dangerous, some may become pregnant after a sexual assault and some may learn that their babies have severe disabilities in the womb. However, some women have trouble coming up with the cash for the procedures they need.

Step One

Apply for Medicaid. Pregnant women with low incomes can qualify for Medicaid in all 50 states. The Hyde Amendment requires Medicaid to pay for abortions in cases of pregnancy due to rape or incest and in cases in which pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. In some states, Medicaid covers abortion for other reasons as well. However, according to the National Abortion Federation, as of 2011 the state of South Dakota refuses to comply with the Hyde Amendment and Medicaid in that state will not cover abortion even in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.

Step Two

Talk to a counselor at the clinic at which you plan to have your abortion. Sometimes abortion clinics can offer reduced fees for women in need but if not, counselors may know of other sources of funding. Sometimes clinics offer payments plans if they cannot offer reduced fees.

Step Three

Contact Hersey at 612-825-2000 if you need financial assistance for an abortion and are under the age of 18, need an abortion due to fetal anomaly, are more than 16 weeks pregnant, are homeless or become pregnant as a result of rape. Hersey provides two-thirds of their funding for women living in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota but sometimes provides assistance to women in other areas as well.

Step Four

Utilize the funding assistance locator on the National Network of Abortion Funds website to find other sources of assistance near you.

Warning

Use caution when seeking assistance from pregnancy crisis centers, which often advertise themselves as sources of abortion information or assistance. These organizations are typically operated by religious groups and limit the information they provide regarding abortion to the risks and disadvantages of the procedure. You should know those things before deciding to have an abortion, but they usually will not give you a balanced view, tell you the potential benefits of the procedure or refer to you to sources of financial assistance if you need it.

Sources:

Mike Andrews, Former Director of Development for the Richland County Pregnancy Crisis Center, Mansfield, Ohio.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5808a1.htm?s_cid=ss5808a1_e. Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2006.

National Abortion Federation. http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/public_funding.html. Public Funding for Abortion.

Hersey. http://www.prochoiceresources.org/hersey.php. Need Funding?