In California, abortion is legal up to fetal viability, which is generally 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. After that point, abortion is still permitted if continuing the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or physical health. These protections were strengthened in 2022 when California voters passed Proposition 1, which added the right to reproductive freedom directly into the state constitution.
What Viability Means in Practice
California does not set a fixed week cutoff. Instead, the law draws the line at fetal viability, the point when a fetus could survive outside the uterus with medical support. Most medical guidelines place this around 24 to 26 weeks, though the exact determination is made on a case-by-case basis by the treating provider. This means the effective limit can vary slightly depending on individual circumstances.
After viability, an abortion can still be performed if it is necessary to protect the pregnant person’s life or physical health. There is no requirement to get approval from a panel or hospital committee for this exception.
Medication Abortion: Up to 10 Weeks
The earliest and least invasive option is medication abortion, which uses two pills taken in sequence. The FDA approves this method through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period). California follows this federal guideline. You do not need to take the pills in a clinic. Since 2023, California has allowed medication abortion to be prescribed through telehealth visits and delivered by mail.
This method is not an option if you have an ectopic pregnancy, have an IUD still in place, or take blood-thinning medications. Your provider will confirm the pregnancy is intrauterine before prescribing.
Procedural Options by Trimester
For pregnancies under 14 weeks, the standard procedure is suction aspiration, which is completed in a single clinic visit. It typically takes only a few minutes and does not require general anesthesia.
Between 15 and 23 weeks, the procedure shifts to dilation and evacuation (D&E), which is usually performed over two days. The first day involves preparing the cervix, and the procedure itself happens on the second day. For pregnancies at 18 weeks or earlier, some providers can complete the entire process in one day depending on the circumstances. Neither version requires an overnight hospital stay. Second-trimester procedures are available at fewer clinics, so you may need to plan further ahead for scheduling.
Who Can Provide Abortions
California expanded its provider pool beyond physicians. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse-midwives can all perform abortions within their scope of practice. This is particularly significant in rural areas where OB-GYNs may be scarce. In practical terms, it means shorter wait times and more locations offering services across the state.
Access for Minors
California enacted a parental consent law in 1987 requiring unemancipated minors to get consent from one parent before obtaining an abortion. However, the law includes a judicial bypass option. This means a minor can go before a judge who will approve the procedure if the minor is found to be mature enough to make the decision independently or if the abortion is in their best interest. California courts have historically interpreted minors’ privacy rights broadly, and the judicial bypass process is designed to be confidential and relatively quick.
Protections for Out-of-State Patients
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, California has positioned itself as an access point for people traveling from states with bans. Several laws now protect both patients and providers in this situation. California prohibits health care providers from releasing medical records about abortion care in response to out-of-state subpoenas. State and local law enforcement are barred from cooperating with other states’ investigations into abortions that were legal in California. And providers and anyone who assists with a lawful abortion in California are shielded from civil liability, even if the patient’s home state considers the procedure illegal.
These protections mean that if you travel to California from a restrictive state, the abortion is treated identically to one for a California resident. Clinics cannot be compelled to share your information with authorities in your home state.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
California requires most private insurance plans to cover abortion without cost-sharing. For those on Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program), abortion services are a covered benefit at no cost. If you are uninsured or traveling from out of state without California coverage, several state-funded programs and nonprofit organizations can help cover costs. The price without insurance varies widely: medication abortion typically runs a few hundred dollars, while a second-trimester procedure can cost significantly more depending on the clinic and gestational age.