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Does Health Insurance Cover Abortion

Costs Associated With Abortion

New York Now Requires Employers Cover Abortions in Employee Health Insurance Plans

Abortion can pose a heavy financial burden for low-income people.

  • The cost of an abortion without insurance coverage is substantial: In 2014, the average cost of an abortionwhether surgical or medicalat 10 weeks of pregnancy was slightly more than $500. The median cost at 20 weeks was $1,195.9 In addition, patients often must pay out of pocket for additional nonmedical costs, such as transportation, child care and lodging.
  • For a person whose income is at the higher end of Medicaid eligibility in the states that adhere to the Hyde Amendment requirements, paying for an abortion at 10 weeks of pregnancy would take nearly a third of their monthly family income. An abortion at 20 weeks would take almost 90% of their monthly income.
  • Many individuals and families are unable to handle an emergency expense of $500 or more. When U.S. adults were asked in a 2016 nationally representative survey how they would pay for a $400 emergency expense, more than 40% of respondents said that they would be unable to find the money or that they would only be able to cover the unexpected cost by borrowing money or selling something. One-quarter of adults reported having forgone health care in the previous year because of high cost.11
  • Forty-one percent of abortion patients surveyed in six states in 2011 said it was somewhat or very difficult to pay for their care.12

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What If Im Under 18 Are There Extra Rules

Most states37, to be exactrequire some level of parental involvement in your decision to get an abortion if youre under 18. Most of these require parental consent, but 11 require only that parents be notified, and seven allow another adult relative to consent. Because the Supreme Court ruled that parents cannot have complete control over a minors decision to get an abortion, most states have some way around these parental consent or notification laws. Usually this is done by judicial bypass, meaning you can ask a judge for permission to get an abortion without notifying your parents. Thirty-four of the 37 states also allow people under 18 to get an abortion without parental involvement in cases of medical emergency, and 15 the 37 states allow people under 18 to get an abortion in cases of incest, abuse, neglect, or assault.

You can use this chart to figure out what the laws are in your state. Your provider or local abortion fund will also be familiar with state laws and may be able to help connect you with organizations like that help with the judicial bypass procedure.

How Does Medicare Cover Abortions

Medicare is funded by the federal government, and states do not contribute to the funding. So non-Hyde abortions are not covered by Medicare in any state, since federal funds cannot be used to pay for non-Hyde abortions.

Most Medicare beneficiaries are 65 or older, and thus well past reproductive age. However, about 8 million people more than 12% of all Medicare beneficiaries nationwide are under 65 and are enrolled in Medicare due to a long-term disability. But since non-Hyde abortions account for the vast majority of all abortions, Medicare beneficiaries generally do not have coverage for abortion.

Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org. Her state health exchange updates are regularly cited by media who cover health reform and by other health insurance experts.

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Health Insurance Companies That Provide Abortion Coverage

Many health insurance companies provide coverage for abortion services if state laws allow it and if the insurer chooses to cover these services.

Top carriers that may offer abortion services include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.

“If you are currently insured, refer to your policy’s plan documents for more details about what it will and won’t cover. And if you are shopping for health insurance on the marketplace or elsewhere, scrutinize plans and insurance companies for information about abortion coverage they offer,” recommends Martucci.

How Women Are Paying For Abortion

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Half of women who choose abortion do so because they cant afford to raise a child, or have other dependents who rely on them and their income.

The financial burden of having a child is, in fact, the largest reasoning cited for choosing abortion, with domestic abuse, relationship issues, single parent projection, and medical issues making up the remaining decision makers.

That being said, it might be surprising to note that more than half of women who receive abortion services pay for it out of their own pockets. Others are able to get it covered by their insurance.

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Does Health Insurance Cover Emergency Contraception

Yes. But it can get a little complicated, depending on the type you need. Under the ACA, most health insurance plans must cover all methods of birth control that you can get with a prescription, including emergency contraception.

There are three kinds of emergency contraception: certain IUDs, the ella morning-after pill, and the Plan B morning-after pill.

The most effective type of morning-after pill is ella. You need a prescription to get ella which means that most health insurance plans will cover ella at no cost to you.

You dont need a prescription to get Plan B or other brands of levonorgestrel morning-after pills, such as Take Action, My Way, and AfterPill. You can buy them over-the-counter at drugstores, pharmacies, superstores, and online. Health insurance wont pay for these types of morning-after pills if you buy them over-the-counter without a prescription. But if you get a prescription, most health insurance plans will cover them at no cost to you.

Its a good idea to get morning-after pills ahead of time and keep them in your medicine cabinet just in case. That way if you need it, you can take it as soon as possible. So if theres ever a chance you might need emergency contraception, call your nurse or doctor and ask for a prescription, or get a prescription at your next appointment. You wont have to worry about trying to get it at the last minute and the cost will be covered by your health insurance.

How Are Abortions Paid For

If you have health insurance that covers abortion services and live in a state that allows for this coverage and the services, you can have an abortion procedure done and submit a claim for the costs through your insurance company.

“The process for submitting abortion procedure claims is broadly similar to insurance claim submissions for other types of procedures,” notes Martucci. “What happens next — the extent to which the insurer will review, verify, and reimburse your claim — will vary significantly based on the company, the provider, and your plan.”

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Access To Plans That Cover Elective Abortions

Because abortion and the ACA are both such polarizing issues, the areas where they intersect are, unsurprisingly, political powderkegs. Pro-choice organizations fear that onerous regulations could result in abortions becoming more difficult and expensive to obtain, while anti-abortion groups are concerned that premium subsidies could potentially be funding elective abortions if the carriers are not strictly adhering to the separate funds requirement laid out in the ACA.

But in reality, how accessible is non-Hyde abortion coverage for people who buy their own health insurance? A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2019 health plans indicated that there were:

  • 26 states where non-Hyde abortion coverage is banned for all plans sold in the exchange
  • Eight states where non-Hyde abortion coverage is not banned, but no insurers offer such coverage
  • Five states and the District of Columbia, where all available exchange plans include non-Hyde abortion coverage, despite no state laws requiring it
  • Six states where state law requires all exchange plans to include non-Hyde abortion coverage
  • Six states where state law does not require or ban non-Hyde abortion coverage, and at least one insurer offers this coverage in at least part of the state

Will My Employer Coverage Work Differently If I Travel Out Of State

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That depends on your plan.

But when an insured person travels out of state for an abortion or related medication, its more likely the providers will fall outside the plans network, which generally costs the insured person more or means expenses will be reimbursed at a lower rate, said Sarah Raaii, a senior associate at McDermott Will & Emery. Some employers could decide to ease that burden by making up the difference and covering certain out-of-network procedures and services at the in-network rate, she added.

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Unequal Access From One Region To The Next

Although abortion is now considered a fundamental right across Canada, access still varies widely from region to region. Provinces like Alberta and Prince-Edward-Island only have a few facilities that are able to perform abortions. New Brunswick refuses to fund abortions that are not performed in hospital.

Also, many pregnant people still get pressured by parents and relatives not to have an abortion.

Even though the right to abortion is now enshrined by law, many people in Canada still struggle to access it and have to fight to assert their rights.

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Its Time To Lay Hyde To Rest

No one should ever have to go through desperate measures in order to attain the health care they need. But with the Hyde Amendment as an impediment, the likelihood of such crises will remain high. One in four women will have an abortion by the age of 45 and every one of them should have insurance coverage of abortion, regardless of the source. Policies like the Hyde Amendment promote a system of inequality in health care, where coverage of abortion and access to this vital health care service depends on the source of health insurance and whether or not a person has the ability to pay for it out of pocket. This means that people with significant financial means will always have access to the abortions they need, while those without financial means will continue to face barriers to care.

At this pivotal moment in which we find ourselves, mulling over health care reform and the direction in which to go next, policymakers and health care advocates have been presented with the opportunity to get it right on insurance coverage of abortion. And getting it right means treating abortion as health care within insurance and the health care system, and covering this vital care once and for all.

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Do Abortion Restrictions Affect Miscarriage Care

Miscarriage care involves the same procedures as abortion. A doctor may prescribe you misoprostol to help your body expel the pregnancy, or perform a vacuum aspiration, or, if you were farther along, a D& E. Bans on insurance coverage of abortion do not affect coverage for miscarriage, so if you have insurance you should be covered.

But you could still run into some problems. For example, a case in Arizona made headlines in June 2018 when a pharmacist refused to dispense misoprostol to a woman with a non-viable pregnancy that her doctor said would ultimately end in a miscarriage. A Michigan woman faced a similar issue in July 2018. Some states require pharmacists with religious objections to have another pharmacist fill the prescription.

Generally speaking, what happened in Arizona is rare. Catholic hospitals are a much bigger issue, Guttmachers Sonfield says. You dont know if the hospital will treat you if they think what youre experiencing is the aftermath of an abortion as opposed to a miscarriage. That is really hard to prove either way. And even if they believe it is a miscarriage, some of the ways in which the ethical directives for Catholic hospitals have been interpreted lead to truly substandard care for miscarriage and pregnancy complications.

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What Is A Cobra Plan

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The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss,.

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If Your Plan Covers Abortion But You Are In A State That Doesnt Offer What You Need Are You Covered If You Must Travel To Get One

It’s unclear. Health insurance plans may cover abortions performed out of state , but they may not cover the travel expenses â or they could cover both. Check your plan’s details or contact your health insurance company.

Some employers have promised to help cover the costs of employees who need to travel to get an abortion. But legal experts say that companiesâ ability to do so will depend on the rules in their state.

In Texas, for example, anyone who helps someone travel across state lines for an abortion could face civil penalties for âaiding and abettingâ them, and employers and insurers may need to consider their potential liability for doing so.

Flexible spending accounts may be a way to cover some of the travel costs. âEven if the travel expenses are not covered by the insurance plan, they could be reimbursable through accounts like FSAs,â Abramowitz says.

Can I Take Sick Leave To Have And Recover From My Abortion

Yes. If your employer provides sick leave, then you can take your accrued sick leave for abortion-related care. In California, employers are required to provide a minimum of 3 days of sick leave each year, which you can use for pregnancy- and abortion-related care. Your employer cannot require you to explain why you need sick leave.

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Do You Get A One Off Payment When You Have A Baby

A Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off payment of £500 to help with the costs of having a new-born or adopted baby. It only applies to people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will only get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if the new baby is the only child under 16 in the household.

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How Far Along In Pregnancy Can I Get An Abortion

HHS Disregards Law on Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Plans

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court held that abortion must be legal up to the point of fetal viability, and after viability if a womans life or health is in danger. There is disagreement about when exactly a fetus is viable, but it is generally held to be around 24 weeks. Many states have laws on the books banning abortion at viability. Several now have laws banning abortion at 20 weeks postfertilization, or 22 weeks gestation, based on the inaccurate claim that a fetus can feel pain at that point.

Numerous states have tried to ban abortion even earlier in pregnancy, and some of these cases could make it all the way to the Supreme Courtwhich now has a 5-4 conservative majority thanks to Brett Kavanaughs confirmation. Four states have laws that would immediately ban abortion if Roe were overturned.

Even though abortions in the second trimester are generally legal, the farther along you get in pregnancy, the fewer providers there are who will be willing or able to perform your procedure. Some providers only offer medication abortion or dont offer abortions after the first trimester because unnecessary regulations make later abortions too difficult to provide.

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Abortion Is Often Covered By Insurance

Many private insurances cover the abortion, birth control and gynecological services offered at FPA Chicago. The Reproductive Rights Act passed in Illinois in July of 2019, and requires private insurance policies to cover abortion services when the policy covers other reproductive health services. For more information please .

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What Does The Nhs Confederation Do

We empower and support healthcare organisations to improve population health, deliver high-quality care and reduce health inequalities. The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Can I Obtain An Abortion If I Am A Detainee In Ice Custody

Yes. Pregnant detainees in ICE custody, including minors, must have access to abortion services. No one can coerce you into obtaining an abortion or not obtaining an abortion. If you wish to receive an abortion, you must request it in clear, signed writing.

ICE must arrange, at no cost to the detainee, transportation to the medical appointment and, if requested, access to religious or social counseling, including from social services or community resource groups. ICE must cover the cost of the abortion only when continuing the pregnancy will endanger the persons life or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

Q: Does Medicare Cover Abortions

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A: Only in certain circumstances. Again, this coverage is limited due to the passage of the Hyde Amendment.

As for when Medicare covers abortions, one is if the pregnancy is the result of rape. Another is if the pregnancy is the result of incest. Medicare also covers abortions that need to be performed because the pregnancy is putting a womanâs life in danger.

To learn more about the kinds of medical treatments and services Medicare does and doesnât usually cover, read our âUltimate Guide to Medicare

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