320 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

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heritage Clinic for women

616-458-3694     800-345-1393

 

fees for our abortion SERVICES

The fees for our abortion services vary depending on the patient's length of pregnancy.  Our current fees include all necessary lab work, ultrasounds, individual counseling, exams, medical abortion medications, surgery, recovery medication, and follow-up exams.    Patients with Rh negative blood type will incur an additional cost to cover a RhoGAM injection.   If you are in the first trimester and feel you need a deeper sedation due to anxiety issues or an unusually low pain tolerance, we offer an additional sedative called Conscious Sedation for an additional fee.    If you are interested in obtaining birth control at the time of your appointment, our physician may provide you with a prescription for a three month supply of either birth control pills, the Ortho Evra Patch or the NuvaRing.    Please discuss these options with our staff when you schedule your appointment so you will arrive prepared.

If you have medical insurance, it may or may not cover voluntary abortion services.  Our staff is willing to contact your insurance company for you in order to verify your benefits, referral requirements, deductible information, and co-pay obligations.   We will calculate the amount you will be responsible to pay at the time of your appointment and provide help with any other concerns you may have in deciding whether or not to use your insurance.   Although we accept most insurances when we are able to verify abortion coverage, we reserve the right to not accept payment directly from certain insurance companies which we know do not reimburse sufficiently for our services.   In these cases, we will provide you with a receipt so you may submit it to your insurance on your own for reimbursement.  

Our fees are subject to change therefore it is best to contact the office directly for our current rates.   Please inform our staff if you are having problems obtaining the finances for your abortion.    We are often able to provide suggestions or assistance which may help you achieve your goal.

 

Financial Assistance

Due to the economic crisis our country is currently struggling to overcome, an incredibly large number of you reading this are wondering how you would pay for an abortion.  We have worked with women for over 25 years who are in financial stress and have many suggestions on how to be successful in raising the fees.  We also work closely with several funding resources which have been able to help thousands of women over the years.  We are more than willing to inform you about how to access these funds and advocate on your behalf when necessary.

IDEAS:    When you feel overwhelmed with your troubles, it is more difficult to see the opportunities available to you. Please consider the following ideas designed to tap into resources you may already have and some you may not have thought of.  

         Ask ten people you know if you could borrow ten to twenty dollars because you've had some unexpected expenses.   They will be more likely to have ten to twenty dollars to spare and will be less curious about your circumstances than if you asked to borrow one hundred dollars.   If ten people loaned you ten dollars each, you would have another one hundred dollars toward the cost of your procedure.   Collect and return bottles and cans to the grocery store.    One hundred cans equals ten dollars.    Consider selling items you own to resale stores:   books, DVD's, CD's, clothing, etc.     Hold a yard sale.   Utilize food pantries or other food resources for groceries and meals in order to save money toward the procedure.   Do odd jobs for neighbors, family members, landlords, or friends.    These jobs might include lawn mowing, gardening, dog walking, preparing meals, grocery shopping, running errands, shoveling snow, cleaning houses, doing laundry, cleaning refrigerators, washing cars..... use your imagination or ask what the person might like help with.  

RESOURCES:    It is extremely important that you access every resource YOU have first BEFORE reaching out to the funds. We will do everything in our power to assist you but you will have to work very hard yourself to raise the fee.

National Abortion Federation Justice Fund

The NAF Justice Fund is available to women who have scheduled an appointment at a National Abortion Federation member clinic (Heritage Clinic for Women is a National Abortion Federation member). You may contact the Justice Fund directly or we can determine your eligibility when you schedule your appointment.   They will only be able to help with a portion of the funds if you qualify so you must work hard to raise whatever money the Justice Fund cannot help with.

Fountain Street Church Choice Fund

The FSC Choice Fund is a 30 year old fund available to women who are currently living in Michigan.    They rely solely on donations from their congregation and members of the pro-choice community throughout Michigan.     This fund is only accessible to the NAF clinics in Michigan.    We will contact them on your behalf once you have scheduled your appointment and a need has been determined.     The amount of money they pledge for your procedure is considered a faith loan meaning that you agree to pay the loan back when you are able in the future.   Every dollar that you are able to repay will immediately be loaned out to another women who needs help.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to pay for your procedure or would simply like to help, please consider making a donation to the FSC Choice Fund to help other women who can't afford their procedures.    You may make a donation when you arrive for your appointment or you may contact us at 616-458-3694 and we will assist you by phone.     Thank you!!!

 

SCHEDULING YOUR APPOINTMENT

When calling to schedule an appointment, be sure to have a pencil and paper available to write down important instructions and information.   We will ask you for information about your pregnancy and medical history including the date your last normal menstrual period began or the results of any tests or ultrasounds you've obtained during this pregnancy.    We will also ask you for information pertaining to confidentiality, financial arrangements and ways to be contacted.  We will provide you with the verbal and written information required by the Michigan 24 Hour Consent Law (see our link entitled 24 Hour Consent Law).   If you have insurance, we will need the contract number, policy holder's name, and insurance phone number.     Insurance must be verified before you arrive at the clinic so that you will come prepared with appropriate finances and any required referrals.   

Please feel free to ask questions and address concerns with our staff over the phone and at the time of your appointment.   You will meet one on one with one of our counselors before your procedure in order to complete a medical history form, explore your birth control needs, discuss your abortion decision and receive an explanation of the abortion procedure.    Please write down all your questions and concerns so you can remember to discuss them privately with your counselor.   Our goal is to provide you with as safe and comfortable an experience as possible, both emotionally and physically.

 

Items to bring with you to your appointment:

bullet If you received the 24 hour consent information over the internet or from an office other then ours, DO NOT FORGET TO BRING IT!
bullet Please bring 2-3 maxi pads and wear or bring underwear to adhere them to.   You will be instructed not to use tampons for two weeks following your abortion.
bullet Please bring or wear a pair of socks to keep your feet warm and comfortable during the ultrasound, procedure and any other exams. 
bullet You must bring someone with you who is able to drive you home if you are having the traditional first or second trimester procedures .   If you qualify for and choose the Medical Mifeprex procedure (medication induced process at home), a driver is not mandatory.
bullet You must bring a picture ID (one with your picture, your name and your birth date).   If you do not have a typical picture ID such as a drivers license, please call the clinic for some alternate suggestions.
bullet Please bring your insurance card if we are billing your insurance (see below).
bullet You may eat a light meal before you come in for your appointment if you are 12 weeks or less and are not choosing to have the optional Conscious Sedation.   If you are choosing to have Conscious Sedation or are 13 weeks or more, DO NOT eat or drink anything (nothing by mouth) after midnight the night before your procedure will be performed.  

 

Special instructions for your appointment:

bullet We DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS!  
bullet We DO accept cash, money orders, VISA or MasterCard.
bullet Please do not bring children since we do not have child care facilities and out of consideration for others in our waiting room.
bullet We have limited parking and seating in our waiting room so please bring no more than one or two people with you to your appointment. 
bullet Plan on your appointment lasting approximately 4-5 hours. 
bullet A reminder:   You may eat a light meal before you come in for your appointment if you are 12 weeks or less and are not choosing to have the optional Conscious Sedation.   If you are choosing to have Conscious Sedation or are 13 weeks or more, DO NOT eat or drink anything (nothing by mouth) after midnight the night before your procedure will be performed.  

 

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OLD 

The State of Michigan Parental Consent Law states that women under the age of 18 who choose to have an abortion must have a parent's consent or go through the court system and get a parental consent waiver also known as a judicial bypass.   If you need help getting a judicial bypass, please call our office or click on our link entitled Parental Consent Law.

If your parent is coming with you to provide parental consent, you must bring the following items to prove parental consent or we will not be able to provide abortion services for you at your appointment: 

bullet If you have your parent's consent and your parent has the same last name you have, you must bring your parent, your picture ID, your parent's picture ID and your birth certificate.
bullet If you have your parent's consent but your parent has a different last name, you must bring your parent, your picture ID, your parent's picture ID,  your birth certificate and your parent's marriage license's) showing your parent's change(s) of name.
bullet If you have a legal guardian, you must bring your guardian, your picture ID, your guardian's picture ID and legal proof of guardianship, specifically over medical issues.

If you have a judicial bypass or parental consent waiver through the court, you must bring your picture ID and the papers signed by the judge stating you have been granted the waiver.

Please call us if you are missing any of the required materials and we will do our best to help you identify acceptable alternatives.