Here’s where Texas women can get an abortion legally

Yes, for now at some clinics. With that 49-year-old case now overturned, a trigger law will go into effect in Texas in the coming weeks that bans all abortions from the moment of fertilization, except in rare cases to save the life of a pregnant patient or prevent “substantial impairment of major bodily function.”

However, abortions up to about six weeks in pregnancy can resume at some clinics in Texas for now after a Harris County District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks an abortion ban on Tuesday, June 28. Whole Woman’s Health, which operates abortion clinics in McAllen, McKinney, Fort Worth, and Austin, said it would resume providing abortions as a result of this ruling.

Besides the Whole Woman’s Health clinics, the others that will resume operations are Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio, Brookside Women’s Medical Center and Austin Women’s Health Center in Austin, Houston Women’s Clinic and Houston Women’s Reproductive Services in Houston, and Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas.

A hearing has been set for July 12 to decide on a more permanent restraining order.

Can you get an abortion out of state legally?

Yes. Abortion expert Maria Antonietta, director for Ipas Central America and Mexico, told MySA she has worked with patients who have already traveled to other states, like New Mexico, to get their abortions. Ipas is an international, non-governmental organization that increases access to safe abortions and contraception.

New Mexico allows late-term abortions, does not require teenagers to get parental approval, and does not have a waiting period. But the state has only three clinics providing surgical abortions, all in Albuquerque, according to a report by the Texas Tribune. Three other clinics offer abortion medication, two in the southern part of the state, and some telemedicine companies offer services to people with a New Mexico mailing address.

If you’re looking for resources outside of Texas, 26 clinics provide abortions in states closest to Texas, mainly in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

However, traveling out of the state or country to obtain abortion services will simply be beyond the reach of many Texans, especially people of color, Antonietta said. 

“The Texas law is very clear that it’s a law not to protect life but to persecute women and the people who support them,” Antonietta said. “It’s to force people to do something illegal or put themselves in danger. When that law was passed, it showed that these are the true colors of the anti-choice movement.”

Can you mail-in pills in Texas?

No. The Texas Senate Bill 4 law has banned medication abortion in Texas starting at seven weeks of pregnancy. SB4 is a state felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in prison. That also applies to those who would ship medication abortion into Texas. 

However, Antonietta said it isn’t illegal to have the pill mailed somewhere else where medication abortion is legal. According to Whole Woman’s Health, you can have the pill shipped discreetly to U.S. post office via general delivery in eligible states. 

The total cost of care, including the medication, is $400. Whole Woman’s Health is unable to accept insurance or Medicaid for medication abortion care by mail at this time. Financial assistance may be available to those who qualify. 

If you need more information, visit its website at wholewomanshealth.com. Or, call 877-835-8631 to check your eligibility.