By and large, the cost of an abortion depends on the method (a medical abortion or a surgical abortion) and the state in which you live. While some states in Australia, like South Australia, have terminations covered by the public health system, other states have private abortion clinics.
Unfortunately, access to abortion due to cost and legal restrictions means access to the procedure is not equal for Australian women. But if you are seeking an abortion, here is the breakdown of costs.
How much does an abortion cost?
Abortions can be performed by either a medical or surgical procedure, and prices range depending on what state you are seeking the procedure. According to Buzzfeed News, as of 2017, the price for an abortion can range from $50 to $795.
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The fact of the matter is the cost of an abortion greatly varies according to state, location, the method of termination and gestation, so let's break it down.
Medical abortion
Medical abortions involve taking drugs and is usually recommended in the first nine weeks of pregnancy. The two medications required for a medical abortion - Mifepristone (RU486) and Misoprostol - vary in terms of cost depending on the state in which you live.
A medical abortion may be difficult to access as it only available in abortion clinics and a small number of GP's.
According to Buzzfeed News, this is the average cost of a medical abortion in state metropolitan areas:
NSW: $560
ACT: $500
TAS: $250
VIC: $560
SA: Free - Available in public hospitals
WA: $550
NT: Free - Available in public hospitals
QLD: $790
Surgical abortion
According to The Guardian, surgical abortions are available in every state and territory up to 20 to 24 weeks. Depending on which state you live in, late-term abortions require permission from doctors or a decision-making body.
According to Buzzfeed News, this is the average cost of a surgical abortion in state metropolitan areas:
NSW: $465
ACT: $500
TAS: $500
VIC: $495
SA: Free - Available in public hospitals
WA: $795
NT: Free - Available in public hospitals
QLD: $715
Does medicare cover an abortion?
This is a tricky question to answer and again depends on where you live.
Mammamia spoke with Dr. Baird who explained how much you can expect Medicare to cover.
Dr. Baird told Mammamia that in the first trimester, Medicare will cover around a fifth of the cost of a surgical abortion. Dr. Baird informed the publication that, "Women get hardly any back from Medicare or health insurance for second trimester abortions."
The morning after pill
What is the morning after pill?
The morning after pill is emergency contraception for women who want to avoid unplanned pregnancy. It should be noted that the morning after pill is not a method of regular contraception and should only be used in emergencies.
How does the morning after pill work?
The morning after pill (more formerly known as the 'emergency contraceptive pill') works by preventing or delaying the release of an egg from the ovaries, which effectively stops the pregnancy before it even starts.
What kinds of morning after pill are there?
There are two kinds of morning after pill available in Australia and both must be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
- One can be used up to 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex. This pill is available over-the-counter at a pharmacy and does not require a prescription.
- The second newer type of morning after pill can be used up to 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex. It can also be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription.
How much does the morning after pill cost?
The cost of the morning after pill depends on which type you buy and the brand and cost between $15 and $45.
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