The economic context of pursuing online medication abortion in the United States

Access to in-clinic abortion has become increasingly restricted in the U.S. and for many, the high cost of care is a significant barrier. However, little is known about how financial circumstances shape the alternate pathways to abortion care people seek when the clinic is out of reach. In a unique sample of people who used medication abortion pills from Aid Access, a non-profit telemedicine service, we examine the impact of economic circumstances on abortion care pathway decision-making and experiences seeking care. Between June and August 2019, we conducted 80 anonymous, semi-structured in-depth interviews with U.S. residents who self-managed their own abortions using medication abortion pills from Aid Access. Participants were asked about their experiences seeking abortion, and their motivations for using the service. We coded interviews using an iteratively developed coding guide and performed thematic analyses to identify key themes. The unaffordable cost of in-clinic abortion was a key reason why participants sought care using online telemedicine. Experiences of personal financial hardship exacerbated by restrictive policies impacted participants’ ability to access the clinic. For participants with children, their financial decisions were further guided by the concerns of providing economic stability for their family. Although telemedicine was considered more affordable than in-clinic care, for some, the suggested donation of $90 still posed a financial burden and accessing pills at no cost or a reduced cost was necessary. The availability of affordable telemedicine and policy interventions addressing Medicaid and insurance coverage for abortion would democratize abortion access for populations with low incomes.