Clinic becomes first telemedicine abortion provider to accept insurance

The virtual clinic Hey Jane has become the first telemedicine abortion provider to accept insurance, marking a “huge step” towards expanding access to care.

With the launch of multiple insurance providers, Hey Jane says it is working to expand coverage further to support the more than half of abortion patients who said having to raise funds delayed their care.

“Since launch, we’ve helped more than 25,000 patients get the care they need,” said Gaby Santana, chief revenue officer at Hey Jane.

“But we also know there’s a lot more to be done to truly expand access. When you look at the sweeping restrictions in our post-Roe world, it’s become evident that patients need as many choices as possible, and affordability is paramount.

“Hey Jane is actively working to expand the capacity of the entire abortion ecosystem and insurance is just the beginning.”

Medication abortion via mail is one of most viable forms of access for most of the country in the post-Roe world.

In January, the US Justice Department said the US Postal Service (USPS) can continue to deliver prescription abortion medication despite a June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a landmark abortion rights decision.

The department’s Office of Legal Counsel said in an opinion sought by USPS that the mailing of mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly used to terminate pregnancies, did not violate an 1873 law known as the Comstock Act.

Hey Jane, which offers both mifepristone and misoprostol, says it aims to provide its care model to as many people as possible through insurance partnerships with companies like Sana Benefits.

Will Young, co-founder and CEO of Sana Benefits, said: “Sana’s mission is to make quality health care understandable, accessible and affordable.

“In abortion care, as in so many other areas of health care, we believe expanding telehealth’s role is a huge lever for achieving all three of those arms.”

Hey Jane says it is committed to making abortion more financially accessible beyond insurance. The telemedicine clinic aims to partner with abortion funds across the country for those who are unable to use insurance or are required to travel for care, and has also begun the application process for Medicaid in the states in which it operates.

Kiki Freedman, co-founder and CEO of Hey Jane, said: “We stand firm in our belief that abortion care should be available to everyone.

“We won’t stop doing everything we can to make sure patients can get the care they need, when they need it.”