NAHotline_Logo_FINAL_PRINT
The National Abortion Hotline is the largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual Hotline for abortion provider information and financial assistance in the U.S. and Canada. We provide callers with accurate information, confidential consultation, and information on providers of quality abortion care. We also provide case management services and limited financial assistance to help you afford the cost of your care and travel-related expenses. The Hotline is free and offers services to everyone, regardless of your individual situation.

National Abortion Hotline

1-800-772-9100

Monday - Friday
8 am - 7 pm EST

Saturday & Sunday
8 am - 4 pm EST

You should not have to wait more than a few minutes when you phone us. Please remain on the line and we will connect with you shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Calling the National Abortion Hotline

In order to determine if you qualify for funding, you will need to know your household size and income. If you qualify for funding you will need to know your appointment date, the name of the clinic you are going to, how far along you are in the pregnancy (including the date of your last period), and the total price that you were quoted by the clinic. If you do not have all the above information, you may still call and be screened for financial assistance, but we may not be able to complete the funding process in one call.

If you are eligible for our funding, you may be told how much funding we can give you and you will not need to call back. We will send the facility notice of our contribution the day before your appointment and the facility will deduct that contribution from your payment. If you still need help after we pledge funds, you will receive the name and direct number for a Case Manager on the Hotline who will be able to help you. Please keep this name and number in case there are any changes to your appointment or your procedure price.

We are so happy that we were able to help you and appreciate that you want to give back. You can donate to one of our patient assistance funds to help other patients who need help like you did.

Funding Assistance

The National Abortion Hotline Fund has limited funding available for people seeking abortion care. Please call the NAF Hotline for more information and to see if you qualify for funding assistance.

If you are eligible for funding, we may be able to help you pay for your travel and/or lodging from our Dr. Tiller Patient Assistance Fund. Please let the Hotline Intake Counselor or Case Manager know you may need help with more than the procedure cost when you call.

Although you may be able to receive financial assistance from local or national abortion funds like the National Abortion Hotline, it is unusual to obtain a free procedure. Call the National Abortion Hotline for more information on funding assistance.

The federal government provides Medicaid dollars for abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.  However, some states do cover abortion in their Medicaid programs.

Although several states ban abortion coverage in some or all private insurance plans, about half the states do not have a ban. A few states even require private insurance coverage of abortion care. Contact your insurance company to find out if you are covered and ask for referrals to providers who accept your plan

At this time, military health plans cover abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.

There are many other local funds across the country that may provide help with the cost of your procedure, travel, lodging, child care, doula, and translation services. Many local funds are small and run by volunteers, and each fund is different. If you are interested in finding local funds in your area, please visit the National Network of Abortion Funds.

In most cases your valid health insurance will cover the cost of abortion care in your home province or territory. There may be some exceptions when accessing an abortion in a different province or territory. New Brunswick health insurance currently only pays for abortion care in a hospital setting.

Abortion Laws

Abortion laws vary by state. You can find the latest information about state laws here: Lay of the Land: Abortion Policies and Access in the United States | Guttmacher Institute

Your parents, partner, or friends may help you make important decisions and they may influence your feelings about having an abortion. However, the decision to have an abortion is yours. If you are feeling pressure to have an abortion, you can call the National Abortion Hotline or talk to clinic staff about your concerns.

If you are under a certain age, such as 18 years, and not emancipated, some states require the abortion provider to involve one or more of your parents/guardians. Typically, the abortion provider must either notify them of the abortion or ensure that they consent to the abortion. If you are NOT able to have that involvement by one or more of your parents/guardians, you can use a process known as a "judicial bypass."

For more information about restrictions in the state where you are seeking abortion care, including the judicial bypass process, contact our Hotline at 1-800-772-9100. You can also find information on your state’s laws here.

If you are under a certain age, such as 18 years, and not emancipated, some states require the abortion provider to involve one or more of your parents/guardians. Typically, the abortion provider must either notify them of the abortion or ensure that they consent to the abortion. If you are NOT able to have that involvement by one or more of your parents/guardians, you can use a process known as a "judicial bypass."

For more information about restrictions in the state where you are seeking abortion care, including the judicial bypass process, contact our Hotline at 1-800-772-9100. You can also find information on your state’s laws here.

No. The Supreme Court has ruled that requiring a spouse’s consent in order to have an abortion is unconstitutional. You may decide to tell your husband or partner, but the clinic will not contact them.

Yes. The provider will require proof of identity, but your citizenship is irrelevant. Immigration Services will not be notified.

Yes. State laws, a person’s individual medical circumstances, and the availability of providers can all impact the accessibility of abortion care. Call the National Abortion Hotline 1-800-772-9100 for more information on the gestational limits in your state or for help finding a provider.

Safety of Abortion

According to the best medical evidence available, abortion is safer than getting a dental procedure or cosmetic surgery, and much safer than childbirth. According to that evidence, in the United States, a woman is about 15 to 25 times more likely to die in childbirth than she is during an abortion.

There is some discomfort associated with both medication and suction/aspiration abortion, as with most medical procedures. Most patients describe it as uncomfortable but bearable cramping. Most early abortion procedures last between five - 10 minutes.

According to the best medical evidence, abortion is extremely safe in terms of a person’s ability to get pregnant again in the future. In fact, fertility often returns quickly after an abortion. If a person wants to delay pregnancy, they should use a reliable method of birth control starting immediately after an abortion.

After recovery from an abortion without complications, there will be no physical sign of your choice. It's important to give an honest and complete medical history to any trusted health care provider, but your future doctors will not be able to tell that you have had an abortion unless you tell them.

In February 2003, the National Cancer Institute convened a symposium of more than 100 of the world’s leading experts who study pregnancy and the risk of breast cancer. They concluded that having an abortion does not increase a person’s subsequent risk of developing breast cancer. A summary of their findings can be found on the American Cancer Society website.

People decide to have an abortion after concluding that it is the right choice for themselves and their lives. According to the best evidence, if you ask people who had an abortion five years later whether abortion was the right choice, over 99% of them will say that it was [1]. The story that women regret their abortions is one that is mostly made up by people who are against abortion.

[1] Rocca, C.H., Samari, G., Foster, D.G., Gould, H. and K. Kimport. Emotions and decision rightness over five years following an abortion: an examination of decision difficulty and abortion stigma. Soc Sci Med, 2020. 248:112704.

It is possible to get pregnant right after an abortion, even before you have had a period. To prevent a pregnancy, talk to your provider about birth control methods that you can use immediately after an abortion.

Accessing Abortion

Most abortion providers require patients to make an appointment. You should call the clinic to see if you need an appointment. You can find a provider here.

Trying to end a pregnancy by self-aborting using unproven methods can be dangerous to your life, health, and ability to have children in the future. Call the National Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 for help and to learn about safe options for ending a pregnancy.

Some private physicians’ offices provide abortion care so you should check with your practitioner’s office to see if they do. If they do not offer abortion care, call the National Abortion Hotline for assistance in finding an abortion provider.

There are several ways to find a clinic. You can call the National Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 or use our provider map.

Pregnancy decisions are yours and you can change your mind. If you would like to talk to someone about your decision, call the National Abortion Hotline at 1-800-72-9100 or speak to a health care professional at the clinic.

 

Medication and suction/aspiration abortion are both safe and effective methods to end a pregnancy. Neither is better than the other although some patients might have medical conditions that will result in a provider recommending one procedure over the other. The process involved in each method is different and some patients prefer one over the other based on their own preferences, timing, and circumstances. You can see a comparison of abortion procedures here.

Yes. The morning-after pill (also known as Emergency Contraception, EC, Preven, or Plan B) prevents pregnancy and does not cause an abortion. It prevents fertilization of an egg or attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterine wall. The abortion pill (also known as RU-486, medical/medication abortion, Mifeprex®, or mifepristone) terminates an already established pregnancy when used in combination with another medication.

Many religious and spiritual organizations respect a person’s right to choose and are pro-choice because of their religious beliefs. For more information, visit the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Faith Aloud, or Catholics for Choice.

People who have abortions come from all walks of life. Some of them got pregnant while using birth control. Some are survivors of sexual assault. They are all ages and all races.

People get pregnant under a variety of circumstances and each has different reasons for having an abortion.

Demographics of U.S. Abortion Patients

Donate to the National Abortion Hotline