Indiana has one of the strictest abortion laws in the U.S. That doesn’t mean there’s no way to get an abortion, though. Since August 2023, when near-total abortion restrictions took effect in Indiana, Hoosiers have had to look at new avenues to obtain health care services, including new restrictions that were added after the ban went into effect, new anti-abortion laws targeting abortifacient drugs, a growing number of court cases involving the legality of abortion access, and a robust legal case filed by the Indiana bishops asserting that abortion bans violate religious liberty rights. If you live in Indiana and want to know what options are still available under Indiana law regarding abortion services, please read below for an outline of Indiana’s abortion restrictions and potential opportunities to legally obtain an abortion.
Understanding the Indiana Abortion Ban: The Basics
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to overrule Roe v. Wade (the landmark ruling that protected abortion rights), Indiana was one of the first states to take action to restrict access to abortions. At the end of the first special legislative session after the Supreme Court’s decision, Indiana’s legislators passed SB1 a near-total abortion ban and Governor Holcomb signed the bill into law on August 25, 2022. After more than a year of legal challenges, the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the law was lawful, and it has been fully enforced since August 2023.
The abortion ban bans all abortions as felonies in nearly every circumstance, and it also rescinds the licenses of abortion providers. This law prevents any provider from providing abortion care in the state of Indiana unless it is done in a hospital or hospital-affiliated outpatient surgical facility.
What Exceptions Does Indiana’s Ban Include?
In Indiana there are very limited conditions permitting an abortion. These conditions dictate the only ways an individual can legally make a request for an abortion through the judicial system.
There are four categories:
- Write an opinion letter that includes your reasoning for terminating the pregnancy due to either: serious risk to the pregnant individual’s life or serious risk to the health of the pregnant individual; or
- Destroying or removing the fetus from the mother’s womb if it has an existing condition that will prevent the fetus from surviving after birth, known as lethal fetal anomalies; or
- Due to being the victim of an act of rape or incest, this is only permissible for the first 10 weeks after the time of fertilization; or
- In some situations, a lethal fetal anomaly can be terminated, either before or up to 20 weeks after the time of fertilization.
It is important to know that the health exception only applies to physical conditions, not psychological or emotional conditions. Thus, in order to qualify for a health exception, an individual must be physically harmed in some manner, as a result of this law. Even the threat of self-harm is insufficient to qualify for a health exception under the current law. The ACLU of Indiana challenged the Indiana law on the basis that the health exceptions contained within it were overly restrictive and obtained an unfavorable ruling from the Indiana Supreme Court in May of 2026, which left the Indiana abortion law in full force.
What Happened to Abortion Clinics in Indiana?
They shut down. The law revoked all abortion provider licenses, and since the law mandates that abortions can only take place at licensed hospitals, independent abortion clinics can no longer legally exist in the state. Currently, organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Women’s Med Center are providing other types of reproductive health services and referring to Indiana for continuing care. Still, those organizations cannot legally perform abortions on-site.
The Religious Freedom Lawsuit: A Narrow Opening
Many Hoosiers are not aware of this; Not all of those living in Indiana are similarly subject to, or affected by, the abortion ban.
In 2026, ACLU-Indiana, representing Hoosier Jews for Choice and others, successfully took the Indiana statewide abortion ban to court through a class action lawsuit, arguing that it was a violation of their freedom of religion under Indiana’s RFRA. The lawsuit was based on the contention that because the plaintiffs’ beliefs include access to abortion being part of their faith, Indiana’s law that provides absolutely no exceptions to allow an abortion to be performed in Indiana violates the plaintiffs’ right to practice their religion.
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and issued a permanent injunction forbidding enforcement of the abortion ban against all plaintiffs and members of the certified class. As of March 6, 2026, the Indiana Attorney General’s office has appealed the judge’s decision. There is still no resolution in the case at this time.
What does that result in practice? If your religion is against Indiana’s abortion ban, you may be able to use this injunction to get care. Because the law in this area continues to change, it is very important to consult a reproductive rights lawyer before using this path as a basis for receiving abortion care.
New 2026 Legislation: The Abortion-Inducing Drug Ban
In early January 2026, things got even more complicated for medication abortion in Indiana.
At the beginning of 2026, Indiana’s Senate passed Senate Bill 236 by a vote of 35-10 along party lines. This bill would prohibit the manufacture, distribution, mailing, prescribing, or possession of abortion-inducing drugs in Indiana. It also creates a private civil enforcement mechanism, allowing virtually anyone to bring a private lawsuit for an alleged violation of this new law with minimum damages of at least $100,000 per violation and with a 20-year statute of limitations for bringing any lawsuit.
When the bill was being considered, medical professionals expressed concern about the definition of “abortion” included in the new legislation. They suggested that it did not consider a life-threatening medical condition like molar pregnancy. Professionals expressed concern about the negative effect the bill would have on providing proper emergency medical care.
At the time of publication, this bill had passed the Senate and had been sent to the Indiana House for consideration. Please verify the final outcome and status of the bill, as legislative action changes rapidly. During their testimonies, medical professionals voiced serious concerns over the proposed legislation that seeks to redefine “abortion” without addressing the potential for dangerous conditions such as molar pregnancy, as well as expressing concern for the bill’s potential chilling effect on appropriate emergency treatment.
However, as of publication, the bill has passed the Senate and awaits action in the Indiana House; thus, its ultimate fate and implementation could change rapidly. Therefore, anyone relying upon medication options for the purposes of obtaining abortions within Indiana should monitor this legislation closely.
Traveling Out of State: Your Most Reliable Option
Traveling to one of Indiana’s neighbouring states is the easiest way to obtain abortion care for most Indiana residents, as well as being completely legal.
Under current Indiana law, patients cannot be arrested for crossing state lines to obtain legal abortion care. Additionally, Illinois shield laws offer an additional level of security from Indiana taking any legal action against any patient who obtains legal abortion care in Illinois; that is, those any legal action seek to be taken against them concerning abortion obtained in another state.
Illinois: The Nearest and Most Accessible Option
The majority of Indiana residents, who are looking for abortion services, rely on Illinois to be their primary place of access to care. Illinois state law has no gestational limits, has broad shield law protections, and has well-established clinic infrastructures that allow for out-of-state care. Prior to the enforcement of Indiana’s abortion ban, Indiana residents represented the largest share of out-of-state patients at the clinic of Dr. Allison Cowett, Chief Medical and Advocacy Officer for Family Planning Associates, Chicago, and this population has significantly increased since then. The clinics in Champaign, Illinois, are about 2 hours from Indianapolis and the clinics located in the west suburbs of Chicago (for example, Westchester) are also approximately the same distance from residents of central Indiana.
Almost all Illinois clinics that provide medication abortion will do so for approximately $380 (which typically includes the cost of the visit, an ultrasound, the medications, and any required follow-up). Providers are familiar with the challenges of providing services to out-of-town patients and are typically willing to schedule a follow-up via telephone.
Michigan: Another Strong Option
Another excellent option for residents in northern Indiana is the state of Michigan. In November of 2022, Michiganders passed a constitutional amendment that guarantees abortion rights within the state, and as such, women in Michigan may have abortions until the fetus has reached a viability threshold, which is roughly 22 to 24 weeks of gestation. Furthermore, Michigan has protection under the state’s Shield Law for out-of-state persons seeking access to abortion services.
Ohio: Limited But Available
The laws regarding abortion in Ohio will change by November 2023 due to an amendment passed by voters, indicating that a woman can only obtain an abortion prior to the fetus being viable. You should try to verify the availability of clinics and check on what the current legal environment is for abortion, as there are likely to have been several lawsuits and/or appeals that could affect your ability to get an abortion.
Financial Help for Indiana Residents
For Indiana residents who decide to travel out-of-state for an abortion, there are expenses other than just the price of the abortion procedure itself (gasoline to get there, missing work, childcare, lodging overnight, and, depending on when you leave, food). Therefore, all of these expenses pose a huge financial barrier for many Indiana residents when they attempt to access abortion services.
Several organizations have been established to assist women in obtaining the necessary funds, including traveling to get an abortion. One is the Hoosier Abortion Fund, which is part of the All-Options network and helps Indiana residents with the cost of both the abortion as well as the cost to travel to have the procedure performed. You can contact the Hoosier Abortion Fund at 812-727-4423 using either a voice call or a text message. All Indiana residents, regardless of age, income, or type of insurance, as well as individuals who must travel from other countries, are eligible for financial assistance from this fund.
In addition to the Hoosier Abortion Fund, Indiana residents travelling to Illinois for an abortion can also obtain funds through the National Abortion Federation Hotline, Planned Parenthood Direct Patient Assistance Fund, and the Chicago Abortion Fund.
These organizations have been developed because the individuals operating them recognize that the law creates an additional financial burden when seeking an abortion, which impacts those individuals who have the least ability to absorb that burden due to their financial status. According to recent analysis performed by Guttmacher Institute and KFF, abortion restrictions have been found consistently to result in increased hardships encountered by individuals who are already economically disadvantaged.
Avoiding Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are numerous throughout the state of Indiana. CPCs can also be called Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs), and contrary to many of their supposed objectives, many of them do not provide medical abortions. Some do not even have any clinicians on their staff, nor do the majority of them, if any at all, utilize any delayed tactics to persuade a woman to not terminate her pregnancy. CPCs are not health care facilities and do not have to inform their clients of the fact that they do not provide reproductive health care to women. There have been instances of CPCs providing free pregnancy tests or ultrasound exams but will use these means of interaction as a way of persuading a woman to not have an abortion.
If you would like to obtain information and/or services related to abortion, please refer to a licensed reproductive health care provider, a Planned Parenthood organization, or a website such as AbortionFinder.org for accurate and medically sound information, and without a predetermined goal of possibly influencing your decision about whether or not to terminate your pregnancy.
What Serenity Choice Health Offers
At Serenity Choice Health (serenitychoicehealth.com) we believe our mission is simple: to provide women who are faced with making an informed decision regarding their reproduction an environment free of judgment and full of compassion. The legality of a woman’s access to an abortion in Indiana is becoming more complex and difficult to navigate daily, women must have access to as much information/assistance as is absolutely possible. It is understandable to be confused and it should not prevent you from finding out correct information about your options for getting to your nearest clinic, trying to understand exceptions, or managing through a tough time after an experience.
Serenity Choice Health is a trustworthy resource to help you navigate through reproductive health decisions with the knowledge and resources to make them right for you. You have the right to make your own decisions about your reproductive health, and therefore you deserve to have access to the most honest and complete information about your options to make those decisions.
The Bottom Line
The Indiana abortion law is real and being enforced. Still, you have real options and resources available to you. Travel to Illinois, Michigan, or Ohio is legal for you to do, and financial assistance is provided to Indiana residents for doing so. There may be a religious exemption, and the fight for legal clarification of health exceptions is not over.
Getting accurate information about your rights, options, and knowing that anxiety or fear should not prevent you from getting the help you need is the Number 1 priority right now. If you would like help in determining your next step, Serenity Choice Health has caregivers ready and waiting to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is abortion completely illegal in Indiana?
No. While the Indiana law prohibits all abortions, it does provide exceptions for life/health, lethal fetal anomaly, and rape/incest in limited circumstances.
Can I be prosecuted for traveling to Illinois for an abortion?
There is currently no such criminal law in Indiana against a person traveling from this state to perform a legal termination anywhere else in the country; once you arrive at your destination, you may benefit from Illinois’ shield laws for patients accessing services.
Are there any abortion facilities within driving distance of Indianapolis?
There are abortion facilities at or around two hours from Indy in Champaign, IL and many individuals also travel to Chicago to obtain care at the many available clinics there.
Is it possible to get the medical termination (abortion) pill in Indiana?
Currently, the medical termination pill is not available through Indiana providers; to successfully obtain the medical termination pill, you will need to travel to a state where terminations are legal, including states like IL, MI, or OH.
What is the Hoosier Abortion Fund?
The Hoosier Abortion Fund assists individuals from Indiana who are financially unable to pay for the cost of obtaining or receiving a termination and the costs associated with traveling to obtain that termination. If you would like more information, you can reach the Hoosier Abortion Fund at (812) 727-4423.
Did any of the courts in Indiana create any exceptions to the prohibition under the statute?
Yes. Effective March 2026, approximately, the Marion County Circuit Court issued a permanent injunction against enforcing the prohibition on the individuals defined as the “Plaintiffs” who had a religious objection to obtaining an abortion per the Indiana law cited above. This ruling is currently on appeal.
Dr. James Carter is a board-certified physician and lead clinician at Serenity Choice Health, specializing in reproductive health access and medication abortion protocols. With over 20+ years of experience, he combines clinical expertise with patient-centered care to ensure safe, compassionate, and confidential reproductive healthcare.