Accessing and Paying for Your Abortion in New York: A Step-by-Step Guide
Information checked September 2026.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice.
In New York, most people can get an abortion for $0. Medicaid and insurance plans regulated by New York State have to cover it, and most private plans can’t charge you a copay or deductible. If you have no coverage, or you’re coming from another state, abortion funds help pay. If money is in the way, there is help.
Abortion is legal in New York State for any reason up to 24 weeks. After 24 weeks, it’s legal if the pregnancy isn’t viable or if abortion is needed to protect your life or health. The state health department has told providers that “health” includes physical, emotional, psychological, and family factors, and your age. Care later in pregnancy is available here. Parkmed NYC in Manhattan (212-686-6066) provides abortion into the third trimester, case by case. For every clinic that provides care after 24 weeks, see the Later Abortion Initiative’s referral sheet at laterabortion.org.
Deciding between abortion pills vs a procedure? Both are safe and valid options! You can see pros and cons for each, and when you can choose either option, at this link: abortionfinder.org/abortion-types/pill-vs-procedure-how-to-decide.
Overwhelmed? Call NYAAF. New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF): (212) 252-4757 · intake@nyaaf.org. Helps pay for abortion care in New York for anyone living in or traveling here.
Under 18? New York doesn’t require a parent’s permission or notice. Clinics can’t tell your parents without your OK. NYC Sexual Health Clinics see people 12 and up. NYC Health + Hospitals pills-by-mail serves people 15 and up. The NYC Abortion Access Hub and NYAAF help people of any age. On a parent’s insurance? The plan may mail them a statement. See Step 7, or ask a fund or low-cost clinic so no claim is filed.
What abortion costs out-of-pocket / as self-pay:
No one should have to pay for an abortion out-of-pocket, and in New York, most people don’t! Even without insurance, funds can fully cover the cost. If you’re paying for your abortion out of pocket, that’s a policy failure and not a personal one. Abortion funds exist because communities decided no one should go without care because of cost. Whatever the price of your appointment, you don’t have to cover it alone.
Prices keep climbing: the typical cost of an in-clinic abortion up to 13 weeks went from $475 in 2017 to $650 in 2023 (ANSIRH). Later in pregnancy, prices rise week by week. People need later abortion care for a lot of reasons, but often it is related to the same barriers we cover in this guide, including raising money, finding a clinic, getting time off, or traveling from a state with a ban.
For reference, below are the national median self-pay rates. These numbers aren’t New York-specific and represent the middle of what clinics charge: half charge less, half charge more. The data below is from the ANSIRH Abortion Facility Database, a 2022-23 study of virtual telemedicine clinics, and a 2024-25 study of later abortion care.
| Weeks of gestation, and what kind of care | Median self-pay price |
| Pills by video visit (telehealth) | About $260 |
| Pills at a clinic (up to about 11 weeks) | About $550 in the Northeast |
| Procedure, up to about 13 weeks | About $650 |
| Procedure, from 13-23 weeks | About $850 in the Northeast. Prices rise week by week and range from about $440 to $3,000. |
| 23 weeks | About $3,000 |
| 25 weeks | About $6,100 |
| 27 weeks | About $8,000 |
| 29 weeks | About $11,500 |
| 31 weeks and later | About $17,000 – $19,000 |
Information to gather as you move through the steps below:
- About how many weeks pregnant you are (count from the first day of your last period)
- Your zip code or where you’re traveling from
- Your insurance card, if you have one
- A rough idea of your household income
Step 1: Find an abortion clinic.
Have insurance or Medicaid? Confirm the clinic takes your plan before you book. An out-of-network clinic can leave you with costs, and Step 4 has the questions to ask.
No coverage, or counting on a fund? Book now and sort out the money after. Funds usually ask for your appointment date.
Where to look:
- ineedana.com – abortion clinics closest to you with their contact information, type of care, and an advanced search option (ineedana.com/advanced-search/support) for funding support for travel, lodging, and other costs.
- NYC Abortion Access Hub: 1-877-NYC-AHUB (1-877-692-2482). They can find an NYC clinic and help you book it.
Free and low-cost places to book:
- NYC Sexual Health Clinics: free or low-cost. Abortion pills up to about 10 weeks. Ages 12+, any immigration status, no NYC residency needed. Walk in before 2pm at Fort Greene, Jamaica, or Central Harlem, or call 347-396-7959. Call ahead at Morrisania.
- NYC Health + Hospitals: financial help if you can’t pay (see Step 5). 11 public hospital clinics provide abortion. 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692).
- NYC Health + Hospitals ExpressCare: as low as $0. Pills by video visit, mailed to you. Ages 15+, up to 12 weeks, must be in NY during the visit. 631-EXP-CARE (631-397-2273), 7 days, 9am–9pm.
- Planned Parenthood: sliding scale by income and family size. Takes NY Medicaid. 1-800-230-7526.
- Other telehealth pills by mail: most $0-$150; many take NY Medicaid. See options at plancpills.org/abortion-pill/new-york.
Avoid fake clinics! The New York Fake Clinic Map (protruthny.org/cpc-map) shows real clinics and places to avoid. These are misleading, anti-abortion “pregnancy centers” or “women’s centers” that don’t provide abortion. They offer free tests or ultrasounds, then try to delay you or give you false information.
Warning signs for fake clinics:
- They won’t say on the phone whether they provide abortion.
- They only offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or “options counseling.”
- They tell you there’s plenty of time, or ask you to come back later.
- They talk about “abortion pill reversal,” or say abortion causes cancer, infertility, or mental illness. Those claims are false.
Ask: “Do you provide abortions here?” Anything but a clear yes means go somewhere else.
What’s next:
- Booked, and your insurance or Medicaid pays in full? Skip to Step 6.
- Booked, but you’ll still owe something? Go to Step 5 for help paying.
- Not sure what your coverage pays? Go to Step 2.
Step 2: Figure out your coverage and funding options! Find the row that matches you. If more than one fits, start with the first one.
| Your Situation: | Usually: | Go To: |
| You have NY Medicaid (any plan) | Covered. You pay $0. | Step 3 |
| You live in NY, have no insurance, and your household makes under about $4,020/month | You can probably get Medicaid now, whatever your immigration status. In fact, it can help to enroll while pregnant, as the income limits are higher. | Step 3 |
| Insurance bought in NY: through a job, school, NY State of Health (marketplace), or NYSHIP (state workers) | Covered. No copay or deductible, unless it’s a high-deductible plan | Step 4 |
| Job insurance that is “self-funded” or was bought in another state | Might not cover abortion | Step 4, then Step 5 |
| Federal coverage: federal job (FEHB), military (TRICARE), VA, Indian Health Service, Peace Corps, federal prison or immigration detention | Won’t pay, except in narrow cases (rape, incest, or life at risk; VA: life at risk only) | Step 5 |
| You’re coming to NY from another state | NY Medicaid won’t cover you, and your home plan may not | Step 5 |
| No coverage and you don’t qualify for Medicaid | Funds and low-cost clinics can help | Step 5 |
Wondering if you qualify for Medicaid? See the table below, which shows Medicaid income limits for pregnant New Yorkers (as of 2026). Count yourself plus each pregnancy. A pregnant person living alone counts as a household of 2.
| Household size | Monthly income under about | Yearly income under about |
| 2 | $4,020 | $48,250 |
| 3 | $5,075 | $60,920 |
| 4 | $6,130 | $73,590 |
| 5 | $7,190 | $86,250 |
These are estimates. The state updates them every year. If you’re close, apply anyway. Some income doesn’t count, and a worker makes the final call!
Step 3: Medicaid
NY Medicaid pays the full cost of abortion for people who live in New York State.
You are Medicaid eligible if:
- You live in New York State.
- Your household income is under the limit in Step 2.
Pregnant New Yorkers qualify regardless of their immigration status. If you are currently in the process of applying for a green card, read Step 7 first.
Medicaid application options:
- Ask your clinic to help you apply. Many clinics, hospitals, and doctor’s offices enroll pregnant people on site, some on the same day.
- Or apply through NY State of Health: nystateofhealth.ny.gov or 1-855-355-5777. The call takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
- In NYC, you can also call use Get Covered NYC. Dial 311 and say “GetCoveredNYC”.
- Don’t wait on the decision to book your appointment. The state aims to decide pregnant applications within 30 days. Tell your clinic you’ve applied.
Missing a document? Apply anyway. The worker will tell you what else they need.
Already paid out of pocket? Medicaid can often cover bills from up to 3 months before you applied. Ask for this when you apply. Starting January 2027, this drops to 2 months for most pregnant applicants.
Already on Medicaid through a health plan (Healthfirst, Fidelis, MetroPlus, and others)? Bring your plan card and your New York State benefit card. You can use the state card at any Medicaid provider for reproductive health care, even outside your plan’s network.
Lost the Essential Plan on July 1? If you’re pregnant, you may have been moved to Medicaid automatically. Call NY State of Health (1-855-355-5777) to check what you have now.
What’s next
You’re enrolled in, or you’ve applied for, Medicaid:
- Book with a clinic that takes NY Medicaid, or confirm your appointment. Give them your Medicaid ID, or tell them the date you applied.
- Line up time off and childcare (Step 6), then check your privacy (Step 7).
- Your abortion should cost you $0. If a clinic asks you to pay, ask why, then call NYAAF.
Still waiting on a decision? Keep your appointment. Tell the clinic you applied, and ask a fund to cover you before your appointment if Medicaid doesn’t come through in time.
Denied, or over the income limit? Go to Step 5 for help paying. Your denial letter explains how to appeal if you think it’s wrong.
Step 4: Private Insurance
Most insurance bought in New York has to cover abortion, including both medication and procedural/surgical abortion, with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible. That includes most job plans, student plans, NY State of Health marketplace plans, and NYSHIP.
Plan types that may still have a cost:
- High-deductible plans (often comes with an HSA) can make you pay toward your deductible first.
- Self-funded job plans. Many large employers pay claims themselves and hire an insurance company to run the plan. New York’s rules don’t apply to these, so coverage depends on your employer.
- Plans bought in another state. New York’s rules only apply to plans purchased in New York.
- Religious employers can leave abortion out of their plan. If yours does, the insurance company still has to cover you, at no extra cost to you.
- Federal plans (FEHB, TRICARE, VA, Indian Health Service) mostly don’t cover abortion. Go to Step 5.
Check before you book. Your clinic’s billing staff can often check for you. Or call the number on the back of your card and ask:
- “Is my plan fully insured or self-funded? What state was it issued in?”
- “Does my plan cover abortion, both pills and procedure? Will I owe a copay, coinsurance, or deductible?”
- “Is [clinic name] in network? If not, what do I pay out of network?”
- “Can you send mail about this claim to a different address, or not send it at all?” (See Step 7.)
If your plan says no, or bills you when it shouldn’t: ask the clinic’s billing office to check the claim, then file a complaint with NY’s Department of Financial Services at dfs.ny.gov/complaint or 1-800-342-3736.
What’s next
- Your plan covers it, and you’ll owe $0? Book with an in-network clinic, then go to Step 6. If you’re on someone else’s plan, do Step 7 before your visit.
- You’ll owe a deductible, copay, or out-of-network cost? Ask the clinic for the exact amount, then go to Step 5.
- Your plan doesn’t cover abortion? Go to Step 5.
- Is your income under the Step 2 limits? You may qualify for Medicaid even with private insurance, and it can pick up what your plan doesn’t. See Step 3.
Step 5: No coverage, a gap, or coming from another state
Abortion funds:
- New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF): for anyone getting an abortion in New York State, and New Yorkers getting care elsewhere. Call 212-252-4757 and leave a message (press 1 for Spanish). A volunteer calls back within 48 hours. You can also email them at intake@nyaaf.org.
- National Abortion Federation Hotline: 1-800-772-9100 (Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–3pm ET). Referrals plus limited help with the cost of care and travel.
- Your home-state fund if you’re traveling, find it at abortionfunds.org.
- NYC Abortion Access Hub: 1-877-NYC-AHUB can connect you to funding too.
When you leave a message or email NYAAF, mention:
- Your name
- Your phone number
- Your appointment details (clinic, date, time)
- The best time for them to call you back
- Whether it is safe to say that NYAAF is calling when they leave a message.
A volunteer case manager will return your call or email within 48 hours. All calls and emails are confidential, and any information you provide is stored in their secure database. NYAAF supports 100% of callers, either through direct funding or connection to other resources (such as Medicaid referrals). If you are eligible for other resources, NYAAF will work with you to ensure you are able to access the care you need.
Help with a hospital bill:
- Hospital financial assistance: every general hospital in New York has to offer it, regardless of your immigration status. Ask for a financial counselor and the New York State Uniform Financial Assistance Application.
- Household income under 200% of the poverty line (about $31,920 a year for 1 person or $43,280 for 2, in 2026): the hospital must waive all charges.
- 200 to 400% of the poverty line: you pay a reduced amount, capped by law.
- Have insurance but your medical bills are more than 10% of your income? You can qualify too.
- Apply before your visit or any time after you get a bill.
- It covers NY residents for emergency care, and people who live in the hospital’s area for other care.
- NYC Health + Hospitals financial counselors: sliding-scale fees as low as $0 through NYC Care (for NYC residents) or Options (for people who live in or visit NYC, and Nassau and Westchester residents). H+H says it shares no application information with immigration officials. Call 1-844-692-4692, press 3, and ask whether your abortion care can be covered.
Coming from another state? Your home-state Medicaid usually won’t pay a New York clinic, but some take it. Choices in Queens accepts NJ, MD, PA, VA, and DE Medicaid. Ask when you book. If no coverage for abortion, use the funds mentioned above, and line up travel help in Step 6.
Federal coverage? FEHB, TRICARE, VA, Indian Health Service, Peace Corps, and federal prison or immigration detention coverage only pay in narrow cases: rape, incest, or when your life is at risk (VA: only when your life is at risk). Otherwise, use the funds above, as if you had no insurance.
What’s next
- Your costs are covered by a clinic discount, fund pledges, or both? Ask the clinic to confirm the pledges are on file under your name, then go to Step 6.
Step 6: Travel, a place to stay, childcare, and time off work
| What you need | Who can help | How to reach them |
| Rides to your appointment | NYAAF | Call 212-252-4757 and leave a message (press 1 for Spanish). A volunteer calls back within 48 hours. You can also email them at intake@nyaaf.org. |
| Travel, hotel, food, childcare, other trip costs | The Brigid Alliance | Ask your clinic or fund to refer you; Brigid doesn’t take direct requests. Prioritizes people 15+ weeks. A coordinator calls within 24 to 48 hours. English and Spanish. |
| A free place to stay overnight in NYC | Haven Coalition (volunteer hosts) | Ask your clinic or the NYC Abortion Access Hub. |
| Help with travel costs | National Abortion Federation (NAF) Hotline or your home-state fund | 1-800-772-9100 (NAF) or find your local fund and support options at https://www.ineedana.com/advanced-search/support. |
| A support person before, during, or after (in person or virtual) | New York Abortion Doulas (NYAD), free volunteer doulas | Request form at newyorkabortiondoulas.org. You can give a Signal username instead of a phone number. They aim to reply within 48–72 hours and can’t promise to match every request. |
Time off work. You can use New York paid sick leave for your own health care: up to 40 hours a year (paid if your employer has 5 or more workers), or 56 paid hours if your employer has 100+ workers. You don’t have to tell your boss why. In NYC, your employer can’t make you say the reason, and can only ask for a note after more than 3 workdays in a row. New York law bans employers from punishing you for your reproductive health decisions. NYC workers with a problem: call 311 and ask for DCWP (Protected Time Off).
Bring with you: a phone charger, pads (not tampons), comfy clothes, snacks, any medicine you take, and a support person if the clinic allows one. Ask the clinic whether you need someone to take you home.
What’s next: your checklist for the days before
Appointment date, time, and address confirmed
Coverage or fund pledges confirmed with the clinic
Ride or travel booked
Place to stay, if you’re traveling or care takes more than one day
Time off and childcare set
Support person or ride home, if the clinic says you need one
Then go to Step 7.
Step 7: Privacy and Legal Considerations
In New York, your abortion should be confidential. Clinics can’t share anything about it with anyone, including a partner or parent, without your permission.
Insurance statements:
If you’re on someone else’s plan (a parent’s, spouse’s, or partner’s), the insurer may mail them a statement about your visit.
- Call the insurer before your visit and ask them to send anything about this claim only to you, at a different address or email, or not at all. Plans must honor this if you say sharing it could put you in danger.
- OR skip insurance: use a fund or low-cost clinic so no claim is filed.
Phones and accounts:
- Use a phone number and email that only you can check.
- Search and message on a device only you use, or use private browsing.
- Turn off location sharing with anyone who shouldn’t know where you are.
- Use an encrypted app like Signal for sensitive messages.
- Tell funds whether it’s safe to leave a voicemail that says who they are.
Immigration:
Getting an abortion in New York does not affect your immigration status. Using Medicaid is a separate question.
- A new federal “public charge” rule took effect September 18, 2026. Immigration officers can now weigh Medicaid use when someone applies for a green card.
- It doesn’t apply to U.S. citizens, refugees, asylees, people with U or T visas or VAWA cases, or people renewing a green card.
- 22 states, DC, and a group of cities led by NYC have sued to stop it. As of September 21, 2026, no court has blocked it, so it is in effect. That could change quickly.
- If you’re applying for a green card, or might soon, talk to free immigration legal help before signing up for Medicaid. Abortion funds are private charities, not government benefits.
- NYS New Americans Hotline: 1-800-566-7636
- NYC: call 311 and say “Immigration Legal,” or call 1-800-354-0365
Other legal questions:
For free and confidential legal help related to accessing care:
- Repro Legal Helpline: 844-868-2812. Any age, including questions about pills you get on your own.
- NY Attorney General reproductive rights hotline: 212-899-5567.
What’s next: after your abortion
- Got a bill you didn’t expect? Don’t pay it yet. Call the clinic’s billing office first. If you have insurance where abortion is covered, you can file a DFS complaint (Step 4). If it’s a hospital bill, you can apply for hospital financial assistance even after the bill arrives (Step 5).
- Medical questions afterward? Call your clinic, or the M+A Hotline at 1-833-246-2632.
- Want to talk it through? All-Options Talkline: 1-888-493-0092.
- Pass this guide on!