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

If you’re in Missouri and need abortion care, you have safe, legal options—but access isn’t easy. There are only 3 abortion clinics throughout the state, and a number of burdensome restrictions on patients seeking fast, private, and affordable care.

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

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Is abortion legal in Missouri?

Yes. In 2024, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment that protects reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion.  Despite the fact that the majority of Missourians voted to recognize reproductive healthcare in their constitution, the fight to guarantee the right to abortion in Missouri is still being contested as there are still restrictive abortion regulations in effect. 

As of July 3, 2025, Missouri’s near-total ban on providing abortion outside of medical emergencies was blocked by a court order. This means the state cannot enforce the ban, and abortion care is allowed while the case moves through the courts.

In addition, the court injunction temporarily blocks certain burdensome requirements, including for: 

• Extra visits and delays: The blocked laws required patients to receive biased counseling and wait 72 hours before receiving an abortion.
• Medication abortion restrictions: The blocked laws required in-person administration of medication and prohibited use of telehealth even after an initial in-person visit. 

Despite this win for abortion access, other burdensome requirements are still in place:

• Unnecessary testing: Patients must complete an ultrasound, even when there is no medical reason for one.
• Permission for minors: Parental or guardian consent – as well as notification of any other custodial parent – is required before a minor can get an abortion, although a judge can provide an exception to this requirement.
• Restricted Medicaid and private insurance coverage: Missouri Medicaid does not cover abortion except in very limited circumstances involving rape, incest or life endangerment, and restricts private insurance plan coverage for other circumstances to separately purchased insurance riders.

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Missouri’s abortion laws are constantly evolving. As of January 2026, ongoing litigation could result in changes to the existing court injunction. Stay up to date on the latest.

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How late can you get an abortion in Missouri?

In Missouri, abortion is legal until viability (about 24-26 weeks of pregnancy), as determined by a health care provider. After that point, abortion may be allowed if the pregnant person’s life or health is at risk. Missouri does not have exceptions for rape or incest.

However, Missouri’s abortion clinics do not provide care that far into pregnancy. Clinics in Kansas City and Columbia offer care up to 12 weeks, and the St. Louis clinic offers care up to 18 weeks. This means that even when abortion is legal later in pregnancy, many people must travel to another state for care.

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Who can get an abortion in Missouri?

Anyone with a uterus can get an abortion in Missouri before fetal viability (usually 24-26 weeks into pregnancy). Note that there are no clinics that offer abortions after 18 weeks, so you may need to travel to another state if the pregnancy is past that gestational age.

Residency is not required, so people from other states can travel to Missouri for care. Residents may also travel to other states where abortion is less restricted or more accessible.

College students, military servicemembers, undocumented patients, and minors all have the right to seek abortion care within these timeframes as well. However, parental involvement is required for abortion seekers under 18 years old. If a minor patient cannot get permission for abortion care from their parent(s) and/or guardian(s), they can ask to skip this requirement through a judicial bypass.

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What types of abortion are available in Missouri?

There are two main types of abortion:

• Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Uses two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. It’s typically available up to 10 weeks of pregnancy at in-person clinics. Only physicians are allowed to prescribe abortion pills, an initial in-person exam is required.  Other restrictions on telehealth, including requirements for in-person administration and an in-person follow-up appointment, have been temporarily blocked by a court.
• Procedural abortion (in-clinic): A clinician uses gentle suction to empty the uterus in a quick 5-15 minute procedure. This option is available before fetal viability in Missouri with some exceptions.

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.

Find an abortion clinic near Missouri 

Although abortion is legal in Missouri, access is extremely limited. As of January 2026, there are only 3 abortion clinics in the state.

Access is further strained as nearby states like Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have near-total  bans on providing abortions with limited exceptions while neighboring Iowa has a 6-week gestational age limit. This means that patients from those states may also depend on Kansas’ few clinics. 

If you live outside of Columbia, Kansas City, or St. Louis, you may need to travel there—or to a nearby state—to access abortion care. Your options will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and the type of abortion you’re looking for. 

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If you can travel or are near the border of Missouri, you may be able to get care through Hey Jane. Hey Jane provides access to abortion pills by mail to 23 states, including nearby Illinois. If you’re physically located anywhere in one of these 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.

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Beware of fake clinics in Missouri

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!)

Missouri has at least 101 fake abortion clinics and only 3 real ones—that’s 33 times the number of legitimate providers. 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 in or near Missouri?

The cost of an abortion can vary based on how far along you are, the type of abortion you get, the provider you choose, and added costs like travel or lodging.

Because Missouri’s  ban on providing an abortion was only recently lifted, the research group ANSIRH does not yet have data on average in-state costs. Instead, the costs below reflect average abortion prices in nearby states, which many Missourians travel to for care. Hey Jane does not currently serve patients in Missouri, but does serve patients who live in or can travel to nearby Illinois.

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How much does it cost to travel for an abortion?

It depends. Travel out-of-state for care requires more than just treatment costs and you may also need to budget for:

• Transportation: Gas, bus tickets, or airfare to a state where abortion is more accessible.
• 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 Missouri (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 Missouri Medicaid cover abortion?

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

• When the pregnant person’s life is at risk.
• In cases of rape or incest.

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Does private insurance cover abortion in Missouri?

In most cases, no. Under Missouri law, insurers are generally restricted from covering abortion in unless the pregnant person’s life is in danger. However, private insurance providers may offer pregnant people the ability to purchase a separate, optional rider specifically for abortion services. 

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Recent abortion news in Missouri 

On July 29, 2025, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew T. Bailey joined 15 other attorneys general from extremely restrictive states to call on Congress to restrict abortion care nationwide.

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Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains & Planned Parenthood Great Rivers v. Missouri

The ACLU, along with two of Missouri’s three abortion clinics, is suing the state to block several restrictive abortion policies. The lawsuit aims to fully enforce what Missouri voters approved in 2024: not just abortion protections in the Constitution, but real access to care. So far, legal protections have moved forward, but access remains limited.

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

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