Minnesota law ensures that abortion is legal for all people. Know your rights when accessing abortion care in Minnesota:
In Minnesota, you have the fundamental right to make decisions about your reproductive health care.
You have that right regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, class, immigration status, race, ethnicity, language ability, or disability status. You also have that fundamental right even if you are in state custody, control, or supervision including in jail, prison or under DCFS custody.
Abortions are allowed up to the point of viability.
After that, an abortion is allowed if the patient’s life or health is endangered.
You have the right to keep your abortion confidential.
Lawmakers require the doctor to report information to the state about the abortion, but not identifying information like your name or address.
State law does not restrict insurance companies from covering abortions, nor does it require coverage.
Coverage varies by policy. Women eligible for state Medical Assistance can only get coverage in cases of rape, incest, to preserve the life of the mother, and for health/therapeutic reasons. Some clinics and organizations provide financial help.
Over the years, the Legislature had created several obstacles to abortion. On July 11, 2022, a judge struck down most of those restrictions as unconstitutional, including:
- A 24-hour waiting period.
- A required extra, medically unnecessary doctor's appointment.
- A requirement for doctors to provide to patients medically irrelevant information designed to discourage abortion.
- A prohibitition on advanced providers such as physician assistants from providing abortion care.
- A requirement for doctors to provide information about a man’s obligation to pay child support.
- A requirement for minors to notify both parents – regardless of the relationship between parent and child – before getting an abortion.
Medical providers and hospitals are not required to offer abortions.
You will not be forced to pay for and view an ultrasound, unlike in some other states
Be skeptical of “crisis pregnancy centers:”
These organizations claim to offer comprehensive family planning services but do not share information about abortion. These “pregnancy care centers” give misleading information to try to prevent you from having an abortion. If you feel you are being lied to or coerced, you are entitled to leave a clinic or center at any time. There are only eight abortion providers in Minnesota. Check these centers against this list.
