Abortion is still legal in NC. This is how to get reproductive health care across the state
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Abortion in North Carolina
Republicans in the North Carolina state legislature passed a law that implements new abortion restrictions. What does that mean for access to abortion? Read coverage on the issue from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.
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The Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade — the case that established the right to abortion at the federal level — has raised questions about the current status of the law at the state level.
Abortion is still legal in North Carolina. There are multiple providers in the state who perform the procedure, including in Charlotte, and organizations that provide additional support services.
Here’s what to know about the state of abortion rights in North Carolina and how to get an abortion in the state:
Was Roe v. Wade overturned?
Roe v. Wade, which says the right to an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution, was overturned Friday.
Six of nine justices voted to overturn the law after they heard oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
“The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision,” the majority opinion said. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.”
States across the country will now have the legal authority to ban abortion outright for the first time in 50 years. Thirteen states are already positioned to do so with “trigger laws” in place that will activate with the end of Roe. They are: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Additional states are preparing to do the same or to pass restrictions that will strictly limit access to abortion.
NC abortion laws
Abortion is currently legal in North Carolina, but the state does have some laws that put restrictions and regulations on the procedure, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization.
North Carolina patients must receive counseling before the procedure and then wait 72 hours before having the procedure. They must also have an ultrasound.
Abortions “may be performed at or after viability only in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised health” and can’t be “performed for the purpose of sex selection.”
For public employees in the state and those who get their health insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange, the procedure is covered by insurance only “in cases of life endangerment, or in cases of rape or incest.”
And minors must have a parent’s consent to have an abortion in the state, though some teens who reside out of state can acquire judicial waivers in North Carolina.
NC abortion providers
There are multiple abortion providers in Charlotte, including:
A Preferred Women’s Health of Charlotte
Location: 3220 Latrobe Dr., Charlotte, NC 28211
What to know: This clinic offers the abortion pill and in-office surgical procedures through 20 weeks, according to its website. Financial assistance is available based on need.
How to make an appointment: Call 888-665-4126 or visit apwhc.com/contact-us/schedule-appointment to schedule an appointment.
Location: 421 North Wendover Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
What to know: This clinic offers the abortion pill and in-office surgical procedures through 20 weeks in addition to emergency contraceptives, birth control and other testing, per its website. Financial aid is available, as are private appointments to accommodate “security needs.”
How to make an appointment: Call 800-298-9974 or 704-367-2255 for more information and an appointment.
Location: 700 S. Torrence St., Charlotte, NC 28204
What to know: This clinic offers abortions, abortion referrals, emergency contraception, birth control and more. Planned Parenthood accepts most major insurances and will help you get covered. Free interpretation services are available for those who prefer a language other than English.
How to make an appointment: Call 704-536-7233 or visit plannedparenthood.org/health-center/north-carolina/charlotte/28205/charlotte-health-center-2703-90860 to book an appointment.
Other abortion clinics can also be found across the state, including:
Planned Parenthood Asheville: 68 McDowell St., Asheville, NC 28801
Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem: 3000 Maplewood Ave., Suite 112, Winston Salem, NC 27103
Hallmark Women’s Clinic: 491 Cleveland Ave., Winston Salem, NC 27103
A Woman’s Choice of Greensboro: 2425 Randleman Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
Planned Parenthood Chapel Hill: 1765 Dobbins Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
North Durham Women’s Health: 400-B Crutchfield St., Durham, NC 27704
A Woman’s Choice of Raleigh: 3305 Drake Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607
A Preferred Women’s Health of Raleigh: 1604 Jones Franklin Road, Raleigh, NC 27606
Planned Parenthood Fayetteville: 4551 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Hallmark Women’s Clinic: 1919 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, NC 28306
Planned Parenthood Wilmington: 1925 Tradd Ct., Wilmington, NC 28401
Other support services, financial assistance for abortion patients
Additional support services are also available to people seeking an abortion in North Carolina.
Many clinics, including Planned Parenthood and A Woman’s Choice locations, have clinic escorts: volunteers who help patients safely get inside clinics, especially when there are protesters outside.
In the Asheville area, the Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collective provides after-care, emotional support and help with the logistics of getting an abortion. For more information, visit mtnabortiondoula.co.
And in addition to the financial assistance offered by some clinics, there are other organizations in the Carolinas and across the country that offer help with paying for reproductive health care.
The Carolina Abortion Fund offers aid to North and South Carolinians. To request aid, call or text 855-518-4603.
The National Abortion Federation hotline — which is toll-free and multi-lingual and can be reached at 1-800-772-9100 — can also offer some financial assistance. Indigenous Women Rising provides financial aid to Indigenous people seeking abortion care.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 12:31 PM.
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