For over 50 years, the ruling of the 1973 Roe v. Wade landmark case has safeguarded the US women’s right to abortion. But the recently-leaked Supreme Court opinion cast doubts over the future of safe and accessible reproductive healthcare in most States. 

In turn, this could trigger a return to the intense abortion tourism trend that existed prior to Roe v. Wade. Today, the limited number of specialized clinics already forces women to travel an average of 10-40 miles to receive abortion care - and the overturning of Roe v. Wade could increase this distance to the pre-1973 averages of 500-1000 miles. In this case, what countries should expect an increase in medical tourism? Here’s some.

Medical Tourism: The Costs Involved 

While according to Chief Justice John Roberts, the leaked draft opinion is authentic, it does not constitute a final decision of the Supreme Court. 

Nonetheless, it has never been more important for women and families to understand the state of international abortion law, and what countries represent a “safe haven” for pregnant women looking for abortion care. But traveling across state lines or country borders to receive reproductive healthcare comes at a cost. 

Women looking to travel abroad or to another state might face significant financial barriers, including traveling, lodging, childcare, or eldercare expenses.

What’s more, women having to travel hundreds of miles might need to take unpaid time off work, which can also negatively impact their employer and career.

Additionally, there are costs related to the abortion procedure itself and aftercare, which can vary by country. In the US, only four states (California, New York, Oregon, and Washington) currently require health insurance policies to cover abortion services. 

Solutions include finding a comprehensive Medical Insurance plan that can absorb some of the costs. Financial help is also offered by dedicated organizations, like Planned Parenthood, or companies like Citigroup, Lyft, and Uber, which have launched initiatives to reduce the patient’s cost to travel to an abortion clinic.

But where can US citizens find high-quality abortion care if the Roe v. Wade case is overturned? Here are some of the best destinations for medical tourism.

Canada

Canada’s law banning most abortions was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada only in 1988. That’s why, throughout the 1980s, Canadian women seeking safe and accessible abortion care would travel to the nearest of the United States, where, thanks to the Roe v. Wade case, abortion had been legal since 1973. 

Today, after the most recent events, neighboring residents of the two countries might find themselves, once again, crossing the borders for medical purposes. 

But, this time, it is Michiganders and other residents of the northernmost states that are considering looking for affordable reproductive care in Canada, where abortion is publicly funded, legal at all pregnancy states, and accessible regardless of the reason.

Colombia

Until February 21, 2022, Colombia - and its restrictive abortion laws - would have certainly not been on the list of top destinations for abortion care. But a ruling of the Constitutional Court has now made abortion in Colombia legal on request and without restriction during the first 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy. 

Colombia makes for a highly accessible destination due to the limited visa requirements for US citizens.

The European Union

While gestational limits vary, in the European Union, abortion on demand is legal in 26 of 27 member states (excluding Finland, which allows abortion for broad socioeconomic reasons). And, over 95% of women in their reproductive years live in an area where abortion care is safe, legal, and local. 

When looking at Europe, abortion on request is legal in 41 countries. Exceptions to these standards include Poland, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Malta, where abortion is illegal. In the UK, most jurisdictions make abortion legal on broad social grounds or on request.

Mexico

Since the Mexican Supreme Court ruling of September 2021, abortion on request is no longer considered a crime in Mexico. 

For citizens of the southernmost United States, Mexico might become the obvious getaway to obtain free, legal, and accessible abortion care.

While legislations vary from state to state, more Mexican jurisdictions are opening up to more liberal abortion laws. 

United States

For as long as Roe v Wade stands, all of the US states will offer some abortion care to women across the country. But if the upcoming Supreme Court decision overturns the law, existing “trigger provisions” and unenforced pre-Roe v. Wade laws banning abortion might automatically come into effect in over 18 states - and 6 more are likely to introduce a new ban.

Nonetheless, some states - including Illinois, New York, California, Oregon, and Kansas - are likely to keep abortion legal on request. While some reproductive health clinics might consider relocating to one of the states without a trigger law in place, women around the nation will likely see the distance between them and an abortion care provider increase exponentially. 

For example, for women in Louisiana, Florida, or Texas, this might mean traveling from 525 to 630 miles on average. Ultimately, the states looking to maintain abortion illegal should expect an out-of-state influx of women seeking abortion care.