High Costs.

Abortion is prohibitively expensive for many people. In New York, the average cost of a first-trimester abortion is about $600 and can be as expensive as $30,000 for abortions later in pregnancy (yes, you read that right).

Health Insurance Barriers.

Even though New York requires Medicaid and state-regulated private insurers to cover abortions, thousands of low-income people fall between the cracks. Many people may be low-income and struggle to pay for abortion procedures but don’t meet income guidelines to qualify for Medicaid.

• Lack of abortion coverage: Many people have insurance plans that are regulated by other states or the federal government which prohibit abortion coverage. For example, the Hyde Amendment bars abortion coverage for Federal employees, including members of the armed services, and young people in New York may remain on their parents’ out-of-state insurance plans.

• High deductibles or copays: Some people with private insurance that covers abortions still need financial support due to high deductibles or copays.

• Unemployment: Job losses may result in a loss of health insurance coverage.

• Insurance not accepted: Some clinics don’t accept certain insurance or Medicaid plans or don’t accept insurance at all after certain points in pregnancy, leaving many forced to pay out of pocket.

Need for confidentiality.

Some people face stigma and threats of violence. Young people who do not have family support and those in abusive relationships may not be able to use their parents’ health insurance.

Immigration Status.

Non-citizen immigrants face particular hurdles navigating access to abortion and other health care.

Lack of Providers.

There is a limited number of clinics providing abortion, particularly in rural areas and upstate New York, and especially after 12 weeks, meaning many New Yorkers are forced to leave their communities, often traveling several hours, to access care.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Crisis pregnancy centers, or “fake clinics”, falsely pose as abortion clinics and attempt to mislead people seeking abortions, causing confusion, further stigmatization, and delays to accessing actual abortion care. There are more crisis pregnancy centers in New York state than there are legitimate abortion providers.

Clinic Harassment.

Protesters regularly gather outside of clinics across the state to intimidate and harass people entering the clinic for care.

Bans & Restrictions in Other States.

As abortion bans and restrictions sweep much of the country, many people are forced to travel for abortion care. New York State, and New York City specifically, are major destinations for many people seeking abortions. Many people travel here because they have friends, family, or other connections in New York, others travel here because New York is one of the few states in the country that offers abortion care later in pregnancy, and others find that traveling here is easier or more convenient as New York is a major transportation hub. The need to travel often adds to delays to accessing care and increases the cost of the abortion. It also creates additional financial burdens associated with traveling, childcare, and taking off of work.