The most important take away is that the legal right to access an abortion in New York State has not changed. There is and will continue to be a lot of news coverage about what kind of abortion care is available to people in different states now that Roe v. Wade is overturned which may create fear and panic. Fear and panic will not help anyone but knowing your rights will! Share this information with friends, family, and coworkers—both those who can and cannot get pregnant.
New York laws protect anyone who ends their pregnancy before 24 weeks post-conception, no matter the reason. Anyone may access abortion care if they are physically in the state whether or not they normally live here. In New York, there are no required ultrasounds or waiting periods before an abortion. You do not need permission from anyone—spouses, partners, or parents—to get an abortion in NY. This includes teens under 18. Teens may also be prescribed birth control without parental permission or knowledge. Any information that a clinic has about you, your pregnancy, and your abortion is strictly controlled and cannot be shared with anyone without your permission.
It is legal in New York to be prescribed the two drugs required for a medication abortion without an in-person visit to a clinic up to the 11th week of pregnancy. Medication abortions can often be prescribed over the phone or through an online doctor’s visit. It is legal to receive these medicines through the mail. Although it is possible to buy these drugs online without a prescription, a prescription is needed to purchase abortion pills from a pharmacy within New York. Medication abortions may be ineffective and dangerous beyond the 11th week of pregnancy. If you don’t know when you got pregnant a trusted doctor or clinic (like Planned Parenthood) can determine how far along your pregnancy is and the safest way to end it.
Medicaid in New York covers abortion care. Anyone who is pregnant, lives in New York, and meets the income eligibility requirements can sign up for Medicaid—there are no immigration status limitations or work requirements. Income eligibility is less strict for pregnant people. If you would like to use a private insurance plan to pay for your abortion you should call and confirm coverage.
Because New York does not criminalize abortion there is no risk of legal consequences from receiving or trying to access an abortion, helping someone get an abortion, experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth, or for seeking medical attention for either abortion complications or miscarriage while in New York. If a New Yorker travels out of state while pregnant they will be held to the state laws wherever they are traveling. Some states have prosecuted people for experiencing unintentional miscarriages. More states will certainly begin prosecuting people for obtaining abortions in the near future. The list of states where abortion is illegal or severally curtailed may change with very little notice.
The right to an abortion is not the same as access to an abortion. Find out now if your doctor’s office or clinic will prescribe medication abortions. All family doctors and ob/gyns are legally allowed to prescribe medication abortions as can Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, and Liscensed Midwives if they are appropriately trained. Many doctors refuse to prescribe medication for abortions and current law in New York state does not force them to prescribe the abortion pill. Tell your doctor you want abortion care available. Ask other clinicians to get appropriate training. Consider changing doctor’s offices to one who provides abortion care and if you do, make sure to tell your original doctor’s office why you are leaving. If you have medical insurance find out now if abortion care is covered. If not, consider telling your HR you want a plan that covers abortion care. Even if you cannot get pregnant you should apply as much pressure as possible to make abortion care more available and less stigmatized.
There are clinics in the Finger Lakes that perform abortions, resources to help pay for both an abortion and other costs like travel and childcare, and additional supports like counseling, legal aid, and health care. If you need help at any step of the process, reach out to the Geneva Women’s Assembly. You can also find these resources on our Abortion Resources webpage.