Abortion Pill Access In New Brunswick

In 2017, the Canadian province of New Brunswick became the first in the country to offer universal access to the abortion pill Mifegymiso, also known as RU-486, for free to women with a valid medicare card. This two-pill product can be prescribed by any doctor or nurse practitioner in New Brunswick and obtained from a pharmacy. However, access to the pill is limited by the small number of physicians in the province with the training required to prescribe it. The abortion pill has dramatically changed the reproductive rights landscape in New Brunswick, with medical abortions now outnumbering surgical abortions by more than two to one.

Hospitals that provide abortions

Abortion services in New Brunswick are extremely restricted, with the province imposing many obstacles to obtaining one. For an abortion to be covered by Medicare, it must be performed in a hospital by a gynaecologist, and two physicians (usually your family doctor and the gynaecologist) must certify in writing that the abortion is 'medically necessary'.

There are only two gynaecologists providing abortions in hospitals in the province, and they cannot meet the demand. There is no backup when these physicians are ill or on leave.

The majority of abortions in New Brunswick are performed at the private Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton. Here, women must pay between $500 and $750 because the province has refused to fund the clinic.

The Family Planning Clinic at the Horizon Health Network offers information on and access to a range of services associated with unplanned pregnancy and contraception. These include assistance with pregnancy decision-making, access to emergency contraception, and unplanned pregnancy options and care, including abortion care and contraception counselling. The clinic can be accessed with or without a referral from a physician.

The Family Planning Clinic can be contacted by phone on 1-844-806-9205, and their facilities and programs are available at The Moncton Hospital.

In 2014, the requirement for women seeking a provincially-funded abortion to have the consent of two doctors was removed by Premier Brian Gallant. However, the province will only pay for the procedure if it's performed at a hospital in one of two cities: Bathurst or Moncton.

Clinics that provide abortions

As of January 31st, 2024, Clinic 554 no longer provides abortions. This has brought an end to clinic-based abortions in the Fredericton area, leaving women in the capital area without a local option for a surgical abortion.

Abortion care is available at the following hospitals:

• Moncton City Hospital: 1-844-806-9205
• Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre: 506-869-2770
• Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst: 506-544-4150

Medication abortions are also covered by Medicare and may be provided by your family doctor or nurse practitioner. They are available at the following locations:

• Fredericton Northside Community Health Centre: 506-447-4444
• St. John Sexual Health Centre: 506-658-3998
• Moncton City Hospital Family Planning Clinic: 1-844-806-9205

If you are unsure, you can call your nearest Family Planning Clinic. The clinic staff will give you the support you need to make a decision. The following Family Planning Clinics are available:

• Family Planning Clinic, Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst: 506-544-4150
• Family Planning Clinic, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre: 506-869-2770

How to get a prescription

To get a prescription for the abortion pill in New Brunswick, you must first ensure you have a valid medicare card. You will also need to have an ultrasound to confirm the gestational age of the fetus, which must not exceed 49 days.

To obtain a prescription, you will need to consult a doctor who has completed the necessary training to prescribe the abortion pill. According to sources, as of 2017, only a small number of physicians in the province had completed the required training. However, the situation may have changed since then. You can contact your nearest health centre or clinic to inquire about doctors who can prescribe the abortion pill.

It is important to note that the abortion pill can only be obtained with a valid prescription, and you may need to answer some medical questions during the appointment. The cost of the abortion pill is covered by Medicare, and you can obtain it from a pharmacy.

In addition to the abortion pill, you can also consider other options, such as surgical abortions, which are available at hospitals in Moncton and Bathurst. However, these procedures are not covered by Medicare and must be paid for out of pocket.

The cost of the abortion pill

The abortion pill, Mifegymiso, was previously available in Canada at a cost of around $300 for the two-step treatment. In 2017, New Brunswick became the first province to provide universal access to the abortion pill, making it available for free to women with a valid medicare card. This was a significant step in removing financial barriers to reproductive health services and ensuring women's equality.

The abortion pill can only be obtained with a prescription from a doctor who has completed the required training. At the time of the announcement, there were a limited number of physicians in New Brunswick with the necessary training, but the Health Minister encouraged interested doctors to get trained so that the drug could be offered more widely.

The government wanted to provide free coverage upfront rather than asking women to pay and then seek reimbursement. The cost of the abortion pill is now covered by Medicare, which is a significant cost saving for individuals.

The cost of Mifegymiso is $320, compared to an expense of about $2,000 to $3,000 for a surgical abortion in a hospital. This makes it a much more affordable option for individuals, especially those without private coverage for prescription drugs.

The availability of the abortion pill has shifted the landscape of reproductive rights in New Brunswick, with medical abortions now outnumbering surgical abortions. This means that abortions are happening earlier in pregnancies, making them safer and less stressful. The increased accessibility of the abortion pill has also contributed to normalizing abortion as part of reproductive health.

The cost of in-clinic abortions

In-clinic abortions can cost up to $1,500 later in pregnancy, but most hover around $750 per abortion, according to Planned Parenthood. The average cost of a first-trimester in-clinic abortion at Planned Parenthood is about $600. The cost of a second-trimester abortion varies depending on how many weeks into the pregnancy you are, ranging from $715 earlier in the trimester to $1,500-$2,000 later in the trimester.

The cost of an abortion can vary depending on the state or health centre where you get care and whether you can use health insurance. Private insurance plans may cover elective abortions if performed by an in-network physician. However, since 2010, 25 states have restricted abortion coverage in plans offered through insurance exchanges, and 11 states have laws limiting insurance coverage of abortion services in private insurance plans.

In New Brunswick, Canada, the abortion pill Mifegymiso is available for free to women with a valid Medicare card, making it the first province to provide universal access. The two-step treatment typically costs around $300.

Frequently asked questions