How Much Does an Abortion Cost in Washington in 2026?

Washington has protected abortion in state law since a 1991 voter initiative, and RCW 9.02.110 bars the state from denying or interfering with a pregnant person's choice to have an abortion before viability, or at any point to protect the person's life or health. The Washington Attorney General's guidance gives about 24 weeks as a rough benchmark for viability, and the treating provider makes the call. In 2026 that legal framework means Washington clinics provide medication abortion, aspiration, and later procedures, and patients travel to Washington from states with bans. The Washington State Department of Health maintains an abortion finder at doh.wa.gov that lists clinics and telehealth options statewide.

Washington patients choose among Planned Parenthood health centers (Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands in western Washington, and Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho in the east), independent providers such as Cedar River Clinics in Renton, Seattle, and Tacoma, and telehealth providers such as Equinox Primary Care. Published Planned Parenthood prices at its Yakima and Pasco health centers show medication abortion at $700 in 2026, with in-clinic procedures starting at $700 and rising to $850 at 12 to 13 weeks and $1,000 at 14 to 15 weeks. Washington 211 lists Cedar River Clinics fees at $600 to $7,000 in 2026, depending on stage of pregnancy. Ask each provider for an itemized Good Faith Estimate that separates the procedure, sedation, lab work, and follow-up care.

The CoveredUSA guide covers what an abortion costs in Washington in 2026, the price gap between medication abortion and in-clinic procedures, what Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Washington Apple Health, and ACA-compliant plans cover, how to request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act, and which funds help Washington patients pay. For Apple Health income rules, see the Medicaid income limits guide linked below, and for national coverage data see KFF at kff.org. Abortion is not a USPSTF preventive service, so standard plan cost-sharing rules and Washington state law, not USPSTF grades, determine what you owe.

Abortion in Washington Cost by Site of Service in 2026

The biggest cost driver of Abortion in Washington is the site of service: where the procedure is performed. 2026 CMS price transparency data confirms a 2-3x billing differential between independent centers and hospital outpatient departments.

Why the Same Procedure Is So Much More at a Hospital

The 2026 Washington abortion cost depends heavily on where the care happens. Independent clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers run on lower overhead than hospital outpatient departments and post flat self-pay prices, so a first-trimester procedure usually runs $600 to $900 in 2026. The same procedure billed through a hospital outpatient department starts from the hospital chargemaster, which adds facility fees, nursing staffing models, and provider-based billing that freestanding clinics do not carry. Hospital billing for an elective abortion in 2026 commonly lands at $1,500 or more before any self-pay discount. Most Washington patients with an uncomplicated pregnancy do not need a hospital, so asking early whether the provider bills as a freestanding clinic can save well over $1,000.

Medication abortion costs less because the visit is simpler: a consultation (in person or by telehealth), a prescription for mifepristone (HCPCS S0190) and misoprostol (S0191), and a follow-up check. The bundled code S0199 covers the associated services and supplies. In Washington in 2026, Cedar River Clinics offers medication abortion in clinic and by telemedicine through 11 weeks, and Equinox Primary Care offers statewide telehealth. Telehealth visits in 2026 commonly price at the lower end of the $350 to $800 range, while in-person visits at Planned Parenthood Yakima and Pasco list $700. Later procedures require more staff time, sedation, and sometimes a two-day process, which explains why prices at 14 weeks and later start near $1,000 and climb with each additional week.

Washington patients paying cash in 2026 should compare at least two quotes before scheduling. Planned Parenthood and Cedar River Clinics both use sliding fee scales, and Cedar River accepts Washington Apple Health and private insurance. The Northwest Abortion Access Fund pays clinics directly on behalf of patients who lack adequate coverage. Federally Qualified Health Centers in Washington offer sliding-scale pricing for many reproductive health services, although not every FQHC provides abortion. For FQHC and charity-care income thresholds, see the 2026 federal poverty level guide linked below rather than relying on a single clinic's rule of thumb.

Washington Abortion Cost by Method and Weeks of Pregnancy in 2026

Washington abortion cost in 2026 rises with weeks of pregnancy and depends on whether you choose medication abortion or an in-clinic procedure. The table below shows typical 2026 self-pay ranges at Washington independent clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers. Hospital outpatient prices are commonly 2 to 3 times higher.

What Medicare Pays for Abortion in Washington

Original Medicare Part B covers abortion only in the narrow Hyde Amendment cases: pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or a pregnancy that endangers the patient's life as certified by a physician. In those cases Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of the approved amount and the patient owes the 20 percent coinsurance after the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, per medicare.gov. No standard 2026 Physician Fee Schedule rate applies to elective abortion, so this page lists the Medicare rate as $0 outside those exceptions. Medicare Advantage plans must cover what Original Medicare covers and generally follow the same limits. Medigap policies pay the 20 percent coinsurance for covered services but do not add coverage for elective abortion.

Washington state law is more protective than federal rules for people with other coverage. Under the Reproductive Parity Act (RCW 48.43.073), all state-regulated health plans that cover maternity services must also cover abortion, including medication abortion, according to the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner at insurance.wa.gov. If an employer objects, the insurer must provide the coverage to employees at no cost. State guidance indicates plans may not charge cost sharing for abortion care, with a narrow exception for HSA-qualified high-deductible plans, where cost sharing is limited to the minimum needed to keep the plan HSA-eligible. Self-funded employer plans are governed by federal law and are not bound by the state mandate. Prior authorization is uncommon for abortion, but confirm with your insurer before scheduling.

Washington Apple Health, the state Medicaid program, covers abortion services, post-abortion care, and post-abortion family planning, per the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. ACA-compliant plans sold through Washington Healthplanfinder follow the same state mandate when they cover maternity care, and Washington Apple Health eligibility depends on household income relative to the 2026 federal poverty level. Providence Health Plan members are an exception: Providence does not cover voluntary abortion for religious reasons, so the Washington State Department of Health pays for those services when the member sees a provider that accepts DOH reimbursement. The DOH reproductive health line for Providence members is 360-972-6852. Uninsured patients who do not qualify for Apple Health can turn to clinic sliding scales and the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.

Under the No Surprises Act, effective January 1, 2022, any Washington patient who is uninsured or chooses to pay out of pocket has the right to a written Good Faith Estimate from the provider before the abortion. For an appointment scheduled at least 10 business days out, the provider must furnish the Good Faith Estimate at least 3 business days before service. For an appointment scheduled 3 to 9 business days out, the Good Faith Estimate is due at least 1 business day before service. The estimate must list itemized expected charges, procedure codes, the provider's name and NPI, service dates, and total expected cost. The federal consumer resource is at cms.gov/nosurprisesact, and healthcare.gov explains the same protections. No Surprises Act rules apply to Washington reproductive health clinics and hospitals with no exemption.

To request a Good Faith Estimate for an abortion in Washington in 2026, follow these five steps: (1) Call the clinic, hospital, or telehealth provider and identify yourself as self-pay or uninsured. (2) Ask for a written Good Faith Estimate that itemizes the procedure or medication fee, sedation or anesthesia, ultrasound, lab work such as Rh typing, and the follow-up visit, with procedure codes. (3) Provide your ZIP code, your weeks of pregnancy, and any planned add-ons such as IV sedation. (4) Confirm the timing: 3 business days before service if the appointment is 10 or more business days out, or 1 business day before service if it is 3 to 9 business days out. (5) Keep the written Good Faith Estimate. If the final bill exceeds it by $400 or more, you have 120 days from the bill date to file a patient-provider dispute resolution claim at cms.gov/nosurprisesact.

A Good Faith Estimate for an abortion is not a guaranteed final bill. Common reasons actual charges exceed the estimate include: an ultrasound at the visit that dates the pregnancy later than expected and moves you to a higher-priced procedure tier, sedation upgraded from local anesthesia, a pathology specimen sent to a lab, Rh immunoglobulin for Rh-negative patients, and follow-up care not in the original estimate. If the final bill is $400 or more above the Good Faith Estimate, the patient has 120 days from the bill date to file a patient-provider dispute resolution claim at cms.gov/nosurprisesact. Because a changed gestational age legitimately changes the price, ask the clinic how a different ultrasound result would alter the quote before the day of service.

What Factors Affect Cost

• Weeks of pregnancy: Washington abortion cost in 2026 rises with each stage. Planned Parenthood Yakima lists $700 for the first stage, $850 at 12 to 13 weeks 6 days, and $1,000 at 14 to 15 weeks 6 days, and later procedures can reach several thousand dollars.
• Method: medication abortion (the pill) usually costs less than an in-clinic procedure in 2026, but is generally available only through about 10 to 11 weeks. Telehealth visits often price at the lower end of the $350 to $800 medication range.
• Site of service: independent clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers cost 2 to 3 times less than hospital outpatient departments for the same procedure in 2026. The hospital chargemaster adds facility fees that freestanding clinics do not charge.
• Independent clinic cash bundles and sliding scales: Washington clinics such as Cedar River Clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers post flat self-pay prices and offer sliding fee scales. Ask 'What is your all-inclusive cash price, and do you offer income-based discounts?' Cash bundles typically run 30 to 60 percent below a hospital chargemaster price in 2026.
• Hospital chargemaster discount ask: most Washington hospitals publish a self-pay or charity-care policy, and under Washington's hospital charity care law uninsured and low-income patients can request reduced or free care. Ask for the policy in writing and a discounted self-pay price before the appointment.
• Sliding-scale FQHCs and Washington Apple Health: Federally Qualified Health Centers in Washington use sliding-scale fees by household size and income, and some services can be $0 at or below 100 percent of the 2026 federal poverty level. Washington Apple Health covers abortion for enrolled members. Not every FQHC provides abortion, so call ahead.
• Abortion funds: the Northwest Abortion Access Fund (hotline 866-692-2310) pays clinics directly and helps with travel and lodging for people in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon who lack adequate coverage. An appointment is required before funding is provided, so schedule first and call early.
• Insurance status: a Washington state-regulated plan that covers maternity care must cover abortion, but a self-funded employer plan or a Medicare Advantage plan may not. Compare your plan's cost sharing with the clinic's cash price in 2026 before choosing which to use, and confirm any prior authorization requirement.

Common Abortion in Washington Billing Errors

Abortion bills in Washington in 2026 can include unexpected line items, especially when care is billed through a hospital instead of a freestanding clinic. Check for these errors before paying:

• Cost sharing charged on a state-regulated plan: Washington guidance says state-regulated plans may not impose cost sharing for abortion care, apart from the HSA-qualified plan exception. If your plan applied a deductible or copay, call the insurer and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner consumer line at 800-562-6900.
• Separate anesthesia bill arriving weeks later: ask whether sedation was included in the Good Faith Estimate. The No Surprises Act may limit what an out-of-network anesthesia provider can bill at an in-network facility.
• Pathology fee billed separately: tissue sent for lab review generates its own bill. If pathology was expected, it belonged on your Good Faith Estimate.
• Hospital facility fee on a clinic procedure: the billing entity can differ from the physical location. If a claim shows a hospital outpatient rate for care you received at a freestanding clinic, dispute the facility designation.
• Ultrasound or Rh typing billed twice: an ultrasound that dates the pregnancy and Rh blood typing are routine parts of abortion care. They should be bundled in the estimate, not billed again as separate diagnostic encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions