Pricing of medication abortion in the United States, 2021-2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Financial costs remain one of the greatest barriers to abortion, leading to delays in care and preventing some from getting a desired abortion. Medication abortion is available through in-person facilities and telehealth services. However, whether telehealth offers a more affordable option has not been well-documented. METHODS: We used Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)'s Abortion Facility Database, which includes data on all publicly advertising abortion facilities and is updated annually. We describe facility out-of-pocket prices for medication abortion in 2021, 2022, and 2023, comparing in-person and telehealth provided by brick-and-mortar and virtual clinics, and by whether states allowed Medicaid coverage for abortion. RESULTS: The national median price for medication abortion remained consistent at $568 in 2021 and $563 in 2023. However, medications provided by virtual clinics were notably lower in price than in-person care and this difference widened over time. The median cost of a medication abortion offered in-person increased from $580 in 2021 to $600 by 2023, while the median price of a medication abortion offered by virtual clinics decreased from $239 in 2021 to $150 in 2023. Among virtual clinics, few (7%) accepted Medicaid. Median prices in states that accept Medicaid were generally higher than in states that did not. DISCUSSION: Medication abortion is offered at substantially lower prices by virtual clinics. However, not being able to use Medicaid or other insurance may make telehealth cost-prohibitive for some people, even if prices are lower. Additionally, many states do not allow telehealth for abortion, deepening inequities in healthcare.