travel costs
travel costs

travel costs

INSURANCE

When is an abortion covered by health insurance?

Abortion rights advocates demonstrate outside of the US Supreme Court a day after the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade in Washington, DC on June 25, 2022.

Abortion rights advocates demonstrate outside of the US Supreme Court a day after the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade in Washington, DC on June 25, 2022.Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images

  • Whether or not abortions are covered by health insurance depends on your plan type and state laws.

  • many businesses have said they will cover travel costs for workers seeking out-of-state medical care.

  • Here’s how to determine if your insurance plan covers abortion now that Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last week, Americans who live in areas that ban abortion now must travel out-of-state in order to receive the medical care they’re seeking.

On top of the financial burden created by travel alone, abortions can cost anywhere from $350 to over $1,500. But depending on the state you live in and your insurance provider, health insurance can cover some or all of the bill.

Insider spoke with two health policy experts about which insurance plans cover abortion, and questions to ask your provider in the post-Roe era.

Which types of insurance plans cover abortion?

State policies on abortion health <a href=insurance coverage.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/V2EvHHf4bXc6eJx_rW57jQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/1DkdUpcZg5AewF_zHnm4SA–~B/aD0wO3c9MDthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business_insider_articles_888/9173bf4aebf08fee674bf6f18f81f16b”/

State policies on abortion health insurance coverage.

State policies on abortion health insurance coverage.KFF

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, many companies across the US announced they would cover travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state medical care.

Employer health insurance falls into two categories: fully-insured plans and self-insured plans. A fully-insured plan is when an employer purchases health coverage from a state-regulated insurance company.

By comparison, companies with self-insured plans pay for employees’ medical bills directly. about 64% of US workers were covered by self-funded health insurance plans in 2021, according to Statista.

State laws — including those that outlaw insurance providers from

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