If your girlfriend is considering abortion, one of the first questions you may have is how the procedure would be paid for. Before making assumptions about your insurance coverage, it’s helpful to understand how most health insurance plans work and what other factors you should consider first.
Most insurance plans will not cover an abortion for a partner you are not legally married to.
Every insurance plan is different, so coverage depends on your specific policy. In general, a girlfriend is not covered under your health insurance unless she is an eligible dependent enrolled in your plan. If you have questions about your coverage, your insurance provider can explain the benefits and requirements of your policy.
While cost may be one factor in your decision, it’s also important to know and understand the effect abortion can have on your girlfriend’s physical and mental health.
Keep reading to learn more and reach out to Voice of Hope Pregnancy and Family Center at any time for free and confidential help for you and your girlfriend.
What the Abortion Pill Involves
According to the FDA, the abortion pill is approved for use through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
It relies on two drugs. Mifepristone is taken first to thin the uterine lining and detach the pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken within a day or two to trigger contractions that expel the pregnancy through vaginal bleeding and cramping.
Health Risks Worth Knowing
In the rush of emotions and urge to deal with an unplanned pregnancy quickly, it can be easy to overlook important details and facts about abortion that can have long-term impacts on your partner’s health and well-being.
Physical risks of the abortion pill include:
- A failed or incomplete abortion that leaves pregnancy tissue behind
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Cramping, diarrhea, and digestive pain
- An allergic reaction to the drugs
- Infection, with warning signs like a foul vaginal odor and a fever lasting more than 24 to 48 hours
The emotional toll can be just as real. Research links abortion to a higher risk of mental health struggles, including grief, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Why an Evaluation Comes First
You should also know that being pregnant does not automatically make the abortion pill a safe choice for your partner.
Before anything else, she needs an in-person evaluation and an ultrasound. Reviewing her health history helps rule out conditions that raise the risk of complications and determine if she is eligible for the abortion pill.
An ultrasound confirms how far along she is, where the pregnancy is located, and whether the pregnancy is viable, details that determine which options are even available to her. For example, a pregnancy located outside the uterus, called an ectopic pregnancy, cannot be treated with the abortion pill.
How Voice of Hope Can Help
Voice of Hope Pregnancy and Family Center offers free, confidential support to you and your girlfriend.
We provide no-cost pregnancy testing, and if your partner receives a positive pregnancy test, she may qualify for a limited ultrasound scan to learn more about her pregnancy before making a decision. Our caring team can also talk with both of you about the options available to you, with no pressure and no agenda.
If your partner chooses parenting, we also offer parenting education classes where participants can earn material assistance for their growing family.
Additionally, we have male advocates and mentoring for men who want to support their partner well during a season like this. You do not have to figure this out on your own.
Contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment.