In November 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 1, enshrining the right to make and carry out reproductive decisions, including abortion, into the state constitution. Subsequently, in October 2024, a state court permanently struck down the six-week “heartbeat” ban that was previously contested. This means that the rules concerning abortion services in Ohio are now protected by the state constitution.

As such, abortion services remain legal in Ohio up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered to be 21 weeks and six days after someone’s last period.

Constitutional Protections

Following the passage of Issue 1, the Ohio Constitution protects the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability. The previous six-week abortion ban, also known as the “Heartbeat law,” was permanently struck down in October 2024 as it violated these newly established constitutional rights.

This ensures that pregnant individuals in Ohio can secure safe and effective health care without the previous climate of legal uncertainty that had put both patients and medical providers at risk.

Will Your Health Insurance Cover An Abortion?

In Ohio, state insurance such as Medicaid is generally prohibited from paying for an abortion due to the Hyde Amendment, except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. Furthermore, employees working for the state of Ohio are also unable to use their insurance for elective abortion services.

Most private insurance plans do cover abortions in Ohio.

Why Does Planned Parenthood List Medicaid As One of the Accepted Insurance Providers?

While unable to apply Medicaid benefits directly to an abortion procedure, Medicaid can be used for some preliminary testing and treatment, and for additional services afterwards. It can, therefore, serve to decrease the overall cost of an abortion appointment.

What Is the Out-of-Pocket Cost for an Abortion?

On average an abortion can cost anywhere from $650 to over $2,500 in Ohio, depending on gestational age. Abortion by means of the abortion pill (medication abortion) usually sits at the lower end of that price spectrum (around $650). Surgical abortions begin at around $800 and increase in cost as gestational age progresses (i.e., the further along in the pregnancy, the more invasive the procedure may be, and therefore the higher the associated cost). Other factors potentially impacting price include RH factor, BMI, and the utilization of optional medications to aid with pain and nausea.

Many clinics do offer income-based pricing or financial assistance, which will require that evidence of income and household size be provided.

Where Can You Currently Find Women’s Health Services that Cover Abortion?

There are several websites that you can use to find local abortion services.

Note: The Planned Parenthood – Cincinnati Surgical Center provides in-clinic procedures and medication abortion. You can reach them by phone at (513) 287-6484. If an in-person visit is required, their local office is located at 2314 Auburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219.

You can find more resources related to primary medical care by selecting the “primary medical care” option from the dropdown tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.