You deserve access to quality health care, including abortion services in your community. Unfortunately, with more restrictions and fewer clinics, the number of people traveling for abortions doubled from 2020 to 2023.

Is it legal to travel to get an abortion? Should I travel for abortion care?

If you live in a state where abortion is banned or severely restricted or you’ve been pregnant longer than your state allows abortions, you have a couple options: traveling out of state to a clinic or having abortion pills delivered to your home.

Traveling for abortion services is legal - the U.S. Attorney General affirmed the right for people to travel, including minors. If traveling seems too complicated and expensive, there are organizations that may be able to help with the costs. Alternatively, abortion pills are also accessible by mail in every state (you can compare all your options at ineedana.com/search), but they can come with legal risk.

Only you can know and decide what abortion is best for you. Some people would prefer to have an in-clinic procedure because it only takes a few minutes whereas pills can take hours or days to work. For some people travel is easy, for others it’s simply not possible because of childcare or taking time off from work. If you do think travel is your best option, but you’re worried about being able to afford it, know there are dozens of support organizations that can help!

Read stories from people who traveled for their abortions.

I’ve decided to travel, what should I know?

Planning a trip for abortion care involves more than just booking travel and the appointment - it’s complicated. The prioritization of what's most important - where you're going, how you'll get there, what it'll cost, what clinic you're going to - may vary based on your circumstances. We’ve compiled a guide to help you determine whether traveling or having pills mailed to you aligns best with your life.

Know how long you’ve been pregnant

First things first, confirm you’re pregnant and determine how many weeks pregnant you are.

Enter in the first day of your last period in the calendar at ineedana.com/search.

If you aren’t sure when your last period was and want to get your pregnancy dated, you can get an ultrasound from your OB/GYN or a clinic. You do not have to disclose any plans of the abortion. If you’re in a state that has banned abortions, here are clinics we recommend in those states that can help with pregnancy confirmation and dating, including ultrasounds.

Pick a state to go to

Different states and clinics have different “gestational week” limits. If you’re traveling for care, it’s really important to be sure the clinic you’re going to can provide an abortion. If you enter your location and date of last period at ineedana.com/search, we can provide you personalized recommendations.

Certain states require mandatory waiting periods, counseling, have gestational limits on abortion and require people under the age of 18 to have consent from their parents. The “waiting period” between the consultations and abortion can vary from 24-72 hours by state and could be a consultation over the phone with the doctor or may require two appointments in person. Other states don’t have these requirements.

At ineedana.com/search, the “practicality” sort feature takes waiting periods into account and prioritizes destinations without them.

Pick a clinic

Picking a clinic when you travel can be complex! Here are some essential questions you need answers to:

• What kind of abortion do you want?
• How soon could the clinic see you?
• Is there a state mandated waiting period?
• How long do their appointments last?
• What does it cost?

You'll likely need to call the clinic to get all the information, but where possible, we have pricing and appointment availability on listings at ineedana.com/search.

If you are under 11 weeks, you usually have the option of a medication abortion or an in-clinic procedure. With either method, you’ll likely be in the clinic for several hours. If you are in the second trimester, the procedure is the only option available and may require 2 or 3 appointments.

When you call the clinic, don’t be afraid to ask the following questions and compare your options:.

• How much does the medication abortion cost?
• How much does the in-clinic procedure cost?
• Are there additional fees like the Rhogam injection or sedation?
• How many appointments are required?
• Can you have a companion in the clinic with you?

Decide how you want to get to the clinic

Reaching the clinic can introduce a fresh set of hurdles. No matter if you're traveling by plane, car, bus, or train, each mode entails its own set of factors and potential challenges. Here's a guide on how to navigate each option:

How much will traveling out of state for an abortion cost?

Travel costs can vary based on your destination, how far you have to go, how long you’ll need to stay, and mode of transportation.

To help you estimate exact costs, we’ve built a trip estimate calculator.

You’ll find this same calculator, with the exact clinic costs where available, embedded on every provider’s listing at ineedana.com/search.

Things to keep in mind while estimating your costs:

• Staying with friends or family in your destination city can significantly reduce your overall trip expenses.
• Pills by mail are usually less than $200 (sliding scale is available!)

We know this is expensive and the burden shouldn't be on you. There are organizations that can offer financial help, travel assistance, emotional support, and more. Keep in mind, you might need to have an abortion appointment already booked before some of these groups can help.

If you decide to travel out of state for abortion care check our Abortion Travel Checklist!

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