Abortion Resources

On June 24, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the Constitutional right to abortion and allowing for states to ban this essential form of health care. In Massachusetts, abortion is still legal. This page is meant to serve as a resource to ensure Massachusetts residents and out-of-state patients know their rights and can receive timely, safe, affordable care when they need it.

HOW YOU ARE PROTECTED

Abortion

In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the ROE Act. This legislation, which Maura strongly supported, codifies the right to abortion and also allowed for abortion later in pregnancy in cases of fatal fetal diagnoses. If you need to find a provider, you can do so through Reproductive Equity Now’s New England Abortion Care Guide or abortionfinder.org.   

Contraception

Birth control access is also protected in Massachusetts. Under the ACCESS Law, you do not need to pay a copay, deductible, or any cost sharing for birth control, including emergency contraception. 

For those who use birth control in the form of the pill, ring, or the patch, your insurer is required to cover a 12-month supply up front without any out of pocket cost. You simply need to have medical insurance through MassHealth, Massachusetts Health Connector, or your Massachusetts-based employer and be on one specific brand of contraception for more than 3 months before you acquire your 12-month prescription.

There are a few exceptions to this law: if your employer self-insures or if you are employed by a church or qualified church-controlled organizations. Your HR department should be able to tell you if you are eligible for these protections and benefits. It is common for universities to self-insure, so be sure to check with your employer.

Learn more about abortion laws in Massachusetts here.

BEWARE FAKE ABORTION CLINICS

There are three times more so-called crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in Massachusetts than there are real reproductive health care clinics that provide abortion. CPCs pose as health care providers for women to lure in pregnant patients. CPCs can be difficult to detect – they often advertise free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, or STI testing. Some even open across the street from real abortion providers. But they do not provide abortion care and are typically not licensed medical providers. They instead lie and mislead patients about their reproductive health to push their anti-abortion agenda. 

Reproductive Equity Now has a database where you can look up abortion providers in your area by zip code. This site will also point out CPCs in your area.

Learn more about the deceptive practices of CPCs here. If you have concerns about your experience with a crisis pregnancy center, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division online or at (617) 963-2917.

ABORTION FUNDS

With so many patients now forced to travel to receive care, it is more important than ever to support abortion funds. Abortion funds remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access. Some funds work with clinics to help pay for your abortion, and others offer support such as transportation, child care, translation, doula services, and lodging. 

QUESTIONS

There are many wonderful providers of sexual and reproductive health care across Massachusetts. One of them is the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, which operates a Counseling & Referral Hotline to answer your questions about care. The hotline is free and confidential and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call 800-258-4448, option 4 or 617-616-1616.