After the recent overturning of the famous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case, which was previously in place to protect abortion rights in the United States, it is no secret that abortion care access has rapidly deteriorated. Today, it is significantly harder for women to find doctors who can provide abortion care- especially for those living in red states.
North Carolina is one of the only Southern states with laws protecting abortion up to 20 weeks. Some states, like Tennessee, Louisiana and Missouri all have “trigger laws” to limit abortion care access, which were immediately implemented following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. In these states, abortion is not only banned, but there are also no exceptions for rape or incest.
If you live in a state that bans abortions without exemptions, it’s impossible to access abortion pills… right?
Wrong. Telehealth abortions have gained traction following the overruling of Roe v. Wade, and they’re way more accessible than you might think. Abortion pills (a term referencing the two-pill combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, which induces a process similar to an early miscarriage) have been used for years to effectively end pregnancy up to 11 weeks. Abortion pills can be accessed online and delivered to your door in days.
Plan C Pills, an online telehealth company, streamlines the process of finding and receiving abortion pills. If you live in a state that restricts clinic-based care, Plan C works with healthcare providers to deliver the pills through creative solutions like online pharmacies, community support networks and mail forwarding.
To get started, head to the Plan C Pills website. You’ll be prompted to select the state you live in, and from there you’ll see options available to you depending on your state’s abortion care restrictions.
Telehealth services like Aid Access are accessible to people in most states and include a digitally-secure basic medical screening with an optional virtual follow-up with a clinician. Abortion pills are delivered to your door in about two to three weeks, and financial assistance with sliding scale pricing is available. The price can range from $0 to $150.
Community support networks are provided by volunteer groups in the United States and are only available in select states. These services are generally free and pills can be delivered in less than 10 days. Clinician intervention is not included, so you won’t meet with a doctor during the process.
Online pharmacies are another great option through Plan C, but they are more expensive and may run some potential legal risks depending on where you live. Based on your location, Plan C will show you options for online pharmacies you can access. Prices and delivery times vary from state to state, but most online pharmacies cost anywhere from $200 to $470 and deliver pills in less than a week. No clinician support is offered through online pharmacies, so if you want to speak with a doctor during the process, this may not be the best option for you.
Although a bit more complicated, mail forwarding is another way to access abortion pills. If you live in a state that bans telehealth abortions, you can use an online medical service to meet with a clinician in another state and then use mail forwarding to send the pills directly to your home or to a virtual mailbox. This service ranges from $200 to $300 and can be delivered in about a week.
Plan C also offers resources to find in-person abortion clinics in your state or nearby.
With the fate of abortion rights still hanging in the balance, now is the time to be prepared. Accidents happen, and having abortion pills on hand is the easiest way to avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety in the future.