Abortion is a safe, common health care service to end a pregnancy. In the U.S., one in four women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Some states have more restrictive abortion laws.
In New York, you can get an abortion for any reason up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, or later if your health is at risk or your pregnancy will not survive. If you need an abortion and are uncertain about how far along in the pregnancy you might be, you may call or visit an abortion provider to determine if you are eligible.
Other states can also provide abortion services later in a pregnancy for any reason.
Any person who can get pregnant — including transgender men, non-binary people and people of any gender who have a uterus — can have an abortion.
The decision to have an abortion is a personal one. No one should pressure you to have or not have an abortion.
You can get an abortion at many health centers in New York City.
To find abortion providers:
If you are looking for abortion services after 24 weeks, visit the Later Abortion Initiative.
There are anti-abortion facilities — sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers or pregnancy resource centers — that try to stop people from getting abortions.
These fake clinics often:
Fake clinics may offer low-cost resources, such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds or baby clothes, but they do not provide abortions. Also, they rarely offer any other medical care. Since they are not licensed health care providers, these facilities are not required by law to keep your personal information private.
New York City law requires these facilities to post a sign in English and Spanish that states they do not have a medical provider on site and do not provide abortion care. If you encounter a fake clinic without this sign posted in English and Spanish, you can file a complaint online or by calling 311.
Learn more about fake clinics in NYC:
Health insurance, including Medicaid, may cover the cost of an abortion. If you are pregnant, you may have special health insurance options. Contact your health insurer to find out what your plan covers.
You may be eligible for New York State Medicaid to cover your abortion procedure. Pregnant New Yorkers can qualify for Medicaid at higher income levels. Find out whether you qualify for Medicaid, or call the NY State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace at 855-355-5777 for more information.
Some medical offices can check if you qualify for Medicaid at the time of your appointment. If you qualify, they can also enroll you, with coverage starting the same day. Before your appointment, ask your medical office if they are a Medicaid enrollment site. Be sure to ask if they require a photo ID or other documents.
As with any other medical procedure, an abortion can be expensive if you do not have insurance coverage.
If you need help paying for your appointment, visit:
If you need help with travel or lodging costs related to your appointment:
There are two types of abortions — medication and procedural.
Your provider may recommend a certain abortion type based on your preference, your medical history and the number of weeks since your last menstrual period.
Medication
This option, also called a medical abortion, involves taking two medicines — mifepristone and misoprostol.
Ask your provider if they offer telehealth and can mail the abortion medication to you.
The FDA recently announced people can get medication for abortion by mail. Previously, people were only able to get it in-person from a health care provider. Contact a provider to find out if this option would work for you.
Procedural
This option, also called “in-clinic abortion”, is an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home after it is over.