Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania. The law did not changed after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. In Pennsylvania, minors have the right to access abortion care without parental consent through a process called judicial bypass.
When seeking abortion care, be careful to avoid anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers.” They sometimes call themselves “pregnancy resource centers” or “pregnancy help centers.” These are anti-abortion activist organizations that can seem or look like medical facilities but they typically do not provide medical services and only have one goal: to prevent you from accessing abortion and contraception. Going to one accidentally can cause an unnecessary delay. When you search for abortion online, some of the search responses could include crisis pregnancy centers, so always double check.
Where can I find abortion care in Pennsylvania?
There are several ways to locate legitimate healthcare providers that offer abortion care in Pennsylvania. If you need help, we are here for you. You can contact us at 412-281-2892 or infopitt@womenslawproject.org and someone will get back to you.
There are currently 17 freestanding facilities that provide abortion in Pennsylvania. Additionally, some hospitals provide abortion care depending on the circumstances.
Ineedana.com is a legitimate source of information for finding abortion care in Pennsylvania.
If/When/How is also a good source of information for finding abortion care in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. You can access their map here.
Do You Need Help Paying for Your Abortion?
Abortion restrictions target low-income people. In Pennsylvania, for example, anti-abortion lawmakers installed a discriminatory funding ban on Medicaid coverage of abortion care, making it harder for people who rely on Medicaid to pay for an abortion.
“Abortion funds” are organizations that exist to help low-income people who cannot afford to pay for an abortion and do not have access to other forms of financial support. If you need help paying for your abortion, you should contact an abortion fund right away.
There are two main abortion funds in Pennsylvania. Contact the one closest to you.
- Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania is an abortion fund in Philadelphia. You can learn more about how they may be able to support you here and call their help line at 215-564-6622.
- Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice is an abortion fund focused on helping people access abortion care in Western Pennsylvania. You can contact them here.
Are You A Minor Seeking Abortion Care in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, people under 18 years old are required to get permission from a parent to have an abortion or obtain an order from a judge to permit the minor to make their own decision about whether to have an abortion without telling their parents through a process called “judicial bypass.”
You do not need money for a judicial bypass. You are not required to have a lawyer, but you have a better chance of getting the judge to rule in your favor with a lawyer’s help. You may also avoid significant delays by working with a lawyer. Your lawyer will be free if you use one appointed by the court.
If you do not have a lawyer, WLP attorneys can help you navigate the judicial bypass process and may be able to represent you so you can obtain permission from a judge to make your own decision about whether to have an abortion. If you do not have a lawyer, please immediately contact the Women’s Law Project at 412-281-2892.
