Abortion in Iowa: Laws, costs, and where to access care

If you’re in Iowa and need abortion care, you have safe, legal options—but access is challenging as abortion is banned after around six weeks with few exceptions.

This guide walks you through what abortion costs in Iowa, what state law allows, and where you can find trusted providers in-state—or how you can travel to nearby states. Hey Jane is a leading virtual abortion clinic in the U.S., but does not currently serve patients in Iowa.

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Is abortion legal in Iowa? 

Yes, but typically only for extremely early pregnancies. As of July 29, 2024, Iowa bans abortion around six weeks, with limited exceptions. That is before many people even know they’re pregnant.  To see how far along your pregnancy is, you can use our pregnancy calculator.

If a “fetal heartbeat” cannot be detected yet, which is around six weeks of pregnancy, you Additionally, there are only three in-person abortion clinics (in Des Moines and Iowa City) and patients must navigate burdensome requirements—including receiving biased counseling, getting medically unnecessary ultrasounds, and waiting periods—in order to get care.  get an abortion, but there are still burdensome barriers to care, including:

• Extra visits and delays: Patients must receive in-person counseling and then wait at least 24 hours before getting an abortion.
• Unnecessary testing: An ultrasound is required, even if there’s no medical reason for one, in order to determine if a “fetal heartbeat” is detectable.
• Minors: Parental or guardian notification is required 48 hours before a minor can get an abortion, although a judge can provide an exception to this requirement.
• Medication abortion restrictions: Patients must have an in-person appointment if they prefer abortion pills instead of a procedure. Telehealth care (through a provider like Hey Jane) is banned.
• Medicaid coverage: Medicaid does not cover abortion care in Iowa, except in very limited cases.

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How late can you get an abortion in Iowa?

Abortion is legal until a "fetal heartbeat" is detectable—usually around six weeks into pregnancy. After that, there are limited exceptions.

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What are the exceptions to Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban?

Abortion is only allowed after around six weeks of pregnancy in Iowa if a physician determines that:

• The pregnant person is: experiencing a medical emergency
• The abortion is medically necessary

If the pregnancy is 20 or more weeks along, abortion is only allowed if a physician determines that the pregnant person is experiencing a medical emergency or that the abortion is necessary to save another fetus (for example, in cases with twins).

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What types of abortion are available in Iowa?

There are two main types of abortion:

• Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Uses two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy. This option is available up to around 6 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa, or usually up to 10 weeks if you qualify for an exception.
• Procedural abortion (in-clinic): A clinician removes the pregnancy during a short procedure. This option is available up to 6 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa for elective abortions, or later in certain circumstances.

Both methods are safe, effective, and commonly used in the U.S. The right option for you depends on how far along your pregnancy is, your health history, and your personal preference. You can use our pregnancy calculator to understand how many weeks pregnant you are—as well as learn about your options.

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How much does it cost to get an abortion in Iowa?

The average cost of abortion depends on factors like how far along the pregnancy is, what type of abortion you get, the provider you choose, and related costs like transportation and travel. While Hey Jane does not serve patients in Iowa, below are the average costs local providers have reported to the research group ANSIRH.

Because Iowa bans abortion after about six weeks with limited exceptions, many abortion-seekers will need to travel out of state for care. That means that they may also need to budget for:

• Transportation: Gas, bus tickets, or airfare to a state where abortion is less restricted.
• Lodging: A hotel, rental, or friend’s place to stay if you need to remain overnight.
• Childcare or time off work: Covering care for children or taking unpaid time away from your job.
• Meals: Stocking up on easy-to-transport food or ordering take out while away from home.

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Does insurance cover abortion in Iowa?

It’s possible! Private insurance can bring the cost of abortion care to as low as $0, depending on your plan’s out-of-pocket expenses. That includes your co-pay or co-insurance fees and whether or not you've hit your deductible (the initial cost you have to pay out-of-pocket before insurance starts to cover medical costs). 

Check with your insurance provider by calling the number on the back of your card for more information about coverage.

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Does Medicaid cover abortion in Iowa?

Generally, no. Iowa’s Medicaid program generally follows the Hyde Amendment, restricting the use of federal funds for abortion except:

• When the pregnant person’s life or health are at risk.
• When a fetus is impaired.
• In cases of rape and incest.

However, Medicaid coverage in Iowa is practically non-existent, because Iowa’s governor must approve any abortion paid for by the Medicaid program.

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Where can I get an abortion in or near Iowa?

As of October 2025, there are only three abortion clinics in Iowa: one in Des Moines and two in Iowa City.

If you don’t live near one of these cities, or if you are more than 6 weeks pregnant, it may be easier to travel to a nearby state with less restrictions, like Illinois or Minnesota, to get care. Your options will vary depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, and what type of abortion you’re looking for.

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If you can travel, you may be able to get care through Hey Jane. Hey Jane provides access to abortion pills by mail to 22 states, including Minnesota and Illinois. If you’re physically located anywhere in one of Hey Jane’s states, you can start your consultation right away. Once approved, you can have your medications shipped to any convenient in-state address—such as a hotel, Airbnb, friend’s house, PO Box, or FedEx pickup location.

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Beware of fake clinics in Iowa

When looking for an abortion provider, make sure to use trusted resources like INeedAnA.com or AbortionFinder. That’s because there are fake clinics, (sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers) that may seem like a real clinic but are not—and they try to convince abortion seekers to continue their pregnancy. These fake clinics often use misinformation or scare tactics to prevent people from accessing real abortion care, and are not bound by HIPAA to keep medical information private. (Horrible, we know!)

Iowa has at least 45 fake abortion clinics—thats 19 times the number of real ones. Because fake clinics often change names or aren’t consistently tracked, different sources list slightly different information. If you’re not sure about a clinic, you can check either exposefakeclinics.com or crisispregnancycentermap.com.

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How to protect your privacy while searching for abortion care 

If you live in Iowa and are looking for abortion care, you may want to take extra steps to keep your search private. Here are a few tips:

• Use personal devices: Search on your own phone, laptop, or email—not on work, school, or government devices.
• Rely on trusted hotlines: Use confidential hotlines and text lines vetted by reputable reproductive health organizations. 
• Lean on support networks: Reach out to friends or family you trust for help, information, or emotional support.

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Abortion is a basic health care right

And it’s a basic health care need for millions of people who can become pregnant. In fact, about 1 in 4 people with a uterus will have at least one abortion in their lifetime.

Despite this, state restrictions and the lack of in-person providers can make it harder to access care in Iowa—but not impossible. 

If you need help finding a trusted provider, use resources like Abortion Finder, INeedAnA.com, or Plan C to explore your options. And if you can travel to a neighboring state like Illinois or Minnesota, you may be eligible for virtual abortion care through Hey Jane. 

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Support abortion access in Iowa

On July 29, 2025, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined 15 other attorneys general from extremely restrictive states to call on Congress to restrict abortion care nationwide.

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The threat to abortion in Iowa has never been higher. Learn more about how Hey Jane has always stood up for abortion access.

CTA: Passionate about expanding and protecting abortion access? Take action and join the Un-Whisper Network.