Abortion in Louisiana: Laws, restrictions, and where to get care

Abortion in Louisiana is banned with limited exceptions, which means that most people will need to leave the state for care. For the few patients that do qualify for an exception, additional barriers such as provider uncertainty, mandatory waiting periods, payor restrictions, and a significant number of fake clinics make accessing timely care difficult. 

If you live in Louisiana and need abortion care, you still have safe, legal options. Many people travel to other states such as Kansas, New Mexico, Illinois, and North Carolina.

This guide walks you through what abortion costs in Louisiana, what state law allows, and how you can travel to a nearby state for abortion care. Hey Jane is a leading virtual abortion clinic in the U.S. and does not currently serve patients in Louisiana.

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Is abortion legal in Louisiana?

As of June 24, 2022, Louisiana has a near-total abortion ban with very few exceptions. 

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What are the exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban?

Louisiana law does not make exceptions for rape or incest. Abortion is only allowed in Louisiana: 

• To prevent the pregnant person’s death,
• To prevent substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or 
• If the fetus is not expected to survive pregnancy.

For the very few patients who qualify under Louisiana’s abortion ban, additional restrictions make accessing care extremely difficult. These include the following:

• Extra visits and delays: Patients must receive biased counseling and then wait 72 hours before getting an abortion, or 24 hours if they don’t live within 150 miles of an abortion provider, except in medical emergencies.
• Unnecessary testing: An ultrasound is required for every patient.
• Medication abortion restrictions: Telehealth care (such as through Hey Jane) is banned.
• Restrictions on minors: Patients under 18 must notify a parent or guardian, and get notarized consent from them or a court order before receiving abortion care.
• Severely restricted Medicaid and private insurance coverage: Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) does not cover abortion except in very limited circumstances, and marketplace plans do not cover abortion at all.

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Find an abortion clinic near Louisiana 

Abortion is banned with extremely few exceptions in Louisiana, so there are no in-person abortion clinics in the state. Most patients travel to nearby states to get care. Each of these states has different laws, waiting periods, and clinic availability, so your best option may depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and how soon you need care.

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How to get abortion pills near Louisiana

While some Louisianians try to travel to Georgia or Florida, both states now have 6-week bans that make getting an appointment very difficult. Because these restrictions are so tight, many people find it's actually faster and more reliable to travel to "sanctuary states" like Illinois, Colorado, or New Mexico. These states have protected abortion access much later into pregnancy and more clinics available to help you.

‍If you can travel, you may be able to get care through Hey Jane. Hey Jane provides access to abortion pills by mail to 23 states, including Colorado, Illinois, and New Mexico. 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, short term rental, friend’s house, PO Box, or FedEx pickup location.

What types of abortion are available?

If you travel to another state for care, or qualify for an exception to receive an abortion in Louisiana, there are two main types of abortion to consider:

• Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Uses two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy. This option is available usually for up to 10 weeks.
• Procedural abortion (in-clinic): A clinician removes the pregnancy during a short procedure. This option is usually available later into pregnancies, but the exact timeline depends on the state.

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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Beware of fake clinics in Louisiana

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!)

Louisiana has at least 37 fake abortion clinics and 0 real ones due to the near-total abortion ban. 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 much does it cost to get an abortion near Louisiana?

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 Louisiana, below are the average costs available in nearby states where abortion is more accessible, reported to the research group ANSIRH.

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How much does it cost to travel for an abortion?

Because Louisiana bans abortion with limited exceptions, and most surrounding states also restrict access, many abortion-seekers will need to travel out-of-state (possibly even through multiple states) 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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Can I get help paying for an abortion? 

Yes—abortion funds can cover the full or partial cost of treatment as well as travel if you're not able to get care locally. Learn more about abortion funds and how they might be able to help you get the care you need.

For assistance with care in Louisiana (or traveling to another state for care), check out the below local organizations. You can find more resources, including talk and text lines, legal help, and more here.

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Does Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) cover abortion?

Generally, no. While federal Medicaid rules allow abortion coverage in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment, Louisiana law is stricter. Louisiana only allows abortion when necessary to preserve the pregnant person’s life or major bodily function, and Medicaid coverage is only available in those situations.

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Does private insurance cover abortion in Louisiana?

Usually, no. Marketplace plans do not offer any abortion coverage. And because abortion is only legal in Louisiana when necessary to preserve the pregnant person’s life or major bodily function, private insurance coverage through non-marketplace plans is extremely limited.

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How to protect your privacy while searching for abortion care 

If you live in Louisiana 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 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 Louisiana—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 another state where abortion is more accessible, you may be eligible for virtual abortion care with Hey Jane. 

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What’s new in Louisiana abortion policy 

Abortion access in Louisiana is under serious threat. New laws and court cases are changing how and if people can get abortion care. 

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Louisiana v. FDA: Oral arguments begin (February 24, 2026)

A federal court in Louisiana is hearing a high-stakes case that could restrict mailing abortion pills across the entire country. The state is trying to reverse FDA rules that allow telehealth for medication abortion, even in states where it's legal. Hey Jane participated in an amicus brief for this case to stand up for your right to safe, private, accessible care.

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Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act (Effective August 1, 2025)

This law, signed on June 20, 2025, creates a new way for people to sue anyone who administers, prescribes, dispenses, distributes, sells, or coordinates the sale of abortion medication to someone in Louisiana, except for providers and pharmacists licensed in Louisiana. It targets out-of-state providers, giving patients up to five years to file a lawsuit. It’s a scare tactic meant to stop the flow of safe medication into the state.

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State abortion laws are constantly evolving. Stay up to date on the latest.