Do I have to leave my name when I call the Hotline?

No, you do not need to leave your name when calling or messaging the Hotline. Just leave specific instructions about when and how we should call you back. Someone will do their best to call you back within 2-3 days.

How can I take steps to protect my privacy while searching for abortion providers?

Reproductive Equity Now Foundation’s New England Abortion Care Guide offers information about abortion providers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. Search by zip code for abortion providers near you.

While there is no way to guarantee complete insulation of your online activity from all potential private and government intrusions, choosing a separate browser with stronger privacy settings is a free way to compartmentalize your search from less sensitive activities and help protect your privacy. Browsers like Brave, Firefox, and DuckDuckGo on mobile are all easy-to-use options that come with stronger privacy settings. It's a good idea to look into the “preferences” menu of whichever browser you choose, and raise the privacy settings even further. It's also a good idea to turn off this browser's features to remember browsing history and site data/cookies.

Read more about how to protect your digital privacy and security when seeking abortion care.

How can I tell if an abortion clinic is legitimate? What is a crisis pregnancy center?

It is important to be aware of so-called “Women’s Health Centers,” also called crisis pregnancy centers, that present themselves as resources for people facing unplanned pregnancies. These centers DO NOT counsel on or refer for abortion care.

These centers are often deliberately located near actual reproductive health clinics. They create websites that appear in online searches for legitimate abortion clinics and advertise online and in print media in ways that might appeal to those who are considering abortion. These centers also may delay scheduling appointments, thereby preventing people from obtaining abortion care earlier in pregnancy, sometimes delaying for so long that accessing abortion becomes more difficult, costly and in some cases, not possible.  So-called “Women’s Health Centers” are typically managed and funded by organizations that oppose abortion in any and all circumstances. As a result, a person with an unintended pregnancy seeking full options counseling or abortion referrals should be aware of the existence of such biased facilities, which do not counsel on or refer for abortion care.

How can you tell if a facility offers unbiased counseling and abortion services or referrals?

• Check its website for statements about whether or not it provides abortion referrals. Often, disclosure that the so-called “Women’s Health Center” does not provide abortion care or referrals is buried in its website;

• Ask directly if it offers full options counseling, abortion referrals, or abortion care; and

• Determine if the facility is hesitant to give referrals for abortion care either on the phone or in person.

Reproductive Equity Now Foundation’s New England Abortion Care Guide also identifies known crisis pregnancy centers in your area. Search by zip code at abortioncarenewengland.org/providers-by-zipcode to see both legitimate abortion providers and fake crisis pregnancy centers near you.

If you believe that a crisis pregnancy center violated your rights, you can file a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. 

I am younger than 18 and can’t tell my parents I am pregnant. Can I get an abortion in Massachusetts?

Young people in Massachusetts ages 16 and 17 may consent to their own abortions and related medical care. People younger than age 16 must obtain parental consent or permission from a judge through a judicial bypass procedure. A judicial bypass is a confidential procedure, which can take place in-person or over the telephone, and allows a judge to authorize an abortion. While it is not necessary for a young person to have a lawyer for this procedure, a court-appointed lawyer can be available if desired.

For help navigating the judicial bypass process in Massachusetts, you may contact the Planned Parenthood Patient Navigation Program at (617) 616-1636. A Navigator will discuss your pregnancy options along with the judicial bypass process. Should you choose abortion, the Navigator will find a lawyer to accompany you to the hearing — you will not be charged for the lawyer’s services. The process of obtaining a lawyer, going to court, and receiving a judicial bypass usually takes only a few days, and, in Massachusetts, is almost always successful. In addition, minors receiving a judicial bypass may qualify for free abortion care at Boston Medical Center (BMC). For more information, contact BMC at (617) 414-2000.

What are abortion pills?

Abortion pills, or medication abortion, are a safe, effective, and FDA-approved way to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation. They are a combination of two medications—mifepristone and misoprostol—that help terminate the pregnancy. Someone who ends a pregnancy through medication abortion will likely experience cramping and bleeding in the days following the medication abortion.

For more information on abortion early in pregnancy, click here.

What if I can’t pay for an abortion? What about for travel, childcare, or housing?

The cost of an abortion procedure will vary depending on factors such as gestational age, type of procedure, and type of provider (see below for more factors).

While you may opt to pay for abortion care out-of-pocket, the procedure may be covered by health insurance—including state Medicaid (MassHealth), other state-subsidized insurance programs, or private plans. In Massachusetts, a new law passed in July requires all insurance plans governed by Massachusetts state law that are delivered, issued, renewed on or after January 1, 2023 to cover abortion care without cost sharing. This mandate also covers fully-insured private plans, MassHealth, plans purchased on the MA Health Connector, and the Group Insurance Commission, Massachusetts’ health plan for state employees and retirees. 

Massachusetts law also requires that individuals receiving health insurance as a dependent can protect their patient confidentiality by receiving their Explanation of Benefits (EOB), which outlines recent health care procedures, directly, instead of having it sent to the primary plan subscriber. When sensitive care is provided, including reproductive health care, the EOB does not include details - it will say “office visit” or “medical service.”

Several nonprofit organizations, known as “abortion funds,” may be available to help cover the costs of those unable to afford abortion care. Massachusetts has four abortion funds that offer funding assistance or logistical support when accessing abortion care:

• The Jane Fund is committed to helping fund and support access to abortion in Central MA and beyond. 

• The Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts is a community-based, all-volunteer organization in Western Massachusetts dedicated to helping people overcome the economic barriers to abortion care.

• The Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund works to ensure that all people living in or traveling to eastern Massachusetts have access to abortion. 

• Tides for Reproductive Freedom is a QBIPOC-led fund in Massachusetts dedicated to providing practical and financial support for people seeking abortion care. 

Is birth control legal?

Birth control is legal in all 50 states. Contraception comes in many forms and includes condoms, prescription pills, vasectomies, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and emergency contraception (“morning-after pills” or “Plan B”).

How can I protect my personal and medical information?

Digital Defense Fund has a helpful guide to abortion privacy that includes everything from protecting your browsing information from tech companies to dealing with anti-abortion protestors. The Electronic Frontier Foundation offers a useful guide about keeping your data safe, which includes tips for phone safety, encryption, and file management. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also has a good guide about protecting your health information on your phone.