In most cases, medical insurance will only include coverage for your girlfriend if there is some form of existing legal financial obligation. In other words, you would need to be legally married or have a domestic partnership in place for her to be covered under your insurance. However, to be certain, you should check with your specific medical insurance provider.
Coverage of abortion care or abortion medication is typically a more complex issue. In the state of Washington, state-regulated health coverage plans that cover maternity services also include coverage of abortion, including the abortion pill.
How Does My Insurance Work?
Healthcare coverage can be confusing, but the basics are that your health insurance policy helps cover the medical expenses of the primary policyholder and their legal dependents. This typically includes a spouse and/or any children, and these individuals must be included in the account information.
In order to have appropriate dependents listed on an insurance account, the primary policyholder would need to submit documentation to the insurance company validating the event and relationship when a legal connection was established, such as a marriage, adoption, or childbirth. Then, that individual could be added to the policy and considered a “dependent”.
Typically when childbirth occurs, most insurance companies have a grace period during which the child is covered for a short time before the policyholder must submit birth documentation to continue coverage.
How Can I Help Protect Her Health Before An Abortion?
It’s good to have all the facts before making plans for the next medical steps. Abortion pills aren’t always the answer.
For instance, the drugs used in medication abortion (another term for the abortion pill) is only approved by the FDA for the termination of early pregnancies, up to 10 weeks of gestational age. Taking these pills past that point in pregnancy could put her at risk for incomplete abortion or other medical complications.
You should also be informed about the potential risks of the abortion pill, as well as which medical complications may disqualify a patient from the abortion pill. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential physical risks of the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
Some women should not take this drug due to certain medical complications or preexisting conditions. This includes those who:
- Are too far along in your pregnancy
- Have an IUD
- Have an ectopic pregnancy
- Have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders; certain heart or blood vessel diseases; severe liver, kidney, or lung disease; or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Take blood thinners or certain steroid medicines
- Can’t receive follow-ups or don’t have access to emergency care
- Have an allergy to the medications
The best way to ensure your girlfriend’s health and safety are protected is to pursue an ultrasound exam under the supervision of a medical professional. Through in-person, specialized care, you can get the answers to key questions – such as how far the pregnancy is – that could inform your next steps.
Where Can I Go For Assistance?
There’s a lot to consider when navigating a pregnancy decision. If you want to learn more about abortion information, seek advice from a medical professional, or just want to further understand your options, contact us today for a free appointment.
You deserve to be empowered to make a confident, informed choice. Get all the answers you need – schedule your free appointment today. The choice is yours, but we can help.