What is an abortion shield law?

As some states have banned abortion, others have passed abortion shield laws to protect doctors who mail abortion pills, provide telehealth care, or assist people traveling across state lines for an abortion. Shield laws aim to create a “safe haven” for abortion care and to limit the reach of anti-abortion states into those jurisdictions.

You can view a list of states that have shield laws here.

As short-hand, we often refer to the medical professionals operating from a state with a shield law as “shield providers.”

Can you still get abortion pills by mail from shield states?

Yes! When it comes to abortion pills by mail, providers operating under shield laws are sometimes called shield providers or online providers. The language is always changing, but for now, these are companies that legally prescribe or ship abortion pills from shield states to people living in states where abortion is banned or restricted. So, even if you live in Texas, Louisiana, or Mississippi, you can still have pills mailed to you — compare the different ways to get pills here.

As of October 2025, there are 6 shield providers in the U.S. Many offer discounts or even free services:

• A Safe Choice — through 13 weeks | Serves all 50 states + Puerto Rico | $150
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• Abuzz — through 12 weeks 6 days | Selected states + Puerto Rico | $150, sliding scale is available
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• Aid Access — through 13 weeks 6 days | Serves all 50 states | $5 - 150, sliding scale is available
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• Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultants (The MAP) — through 11 weeks | Selected states | $5 - 150, sliding scale is available
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• Choices Rising — through 12 weeks | Serves all 50 states + Puerto Rico | $150
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• We Take Care of Us — through 13 weeks | Serves all 50 states + Puerto Rico | $5 - 300, sliding scale is available
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While self managing an abortion is not a crime before 24 weeks in any state, what the law says and what happens in reality can be different. Ordering pills online may come with legal risk.

If you have any questions or want to talk about risks specific to you and your life, you can call the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 to talk with a lawyer.

What happens if a provider sends pills to a banned state like Texas? I heard they banned pills by mail?

In December 2025, a new law will take effect in Texas that allows private citizens to sue health providers who prescribe, mail, or give abortion medication to patients in Texas. However, this law does not criminalize or penalize the pregnant person, so it doesn’t increase someone’s legal risk—only the legal risk of the provider.

We expect to see more laws like this in other anti-abortion states. We also expect to see continued legal challenges of shield laws.

If you have any questions or want to talk about risks specific to you and your life, you can call the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 to talk with a lawyer.

And remember that abortion pills are available in all 50 states — search your options at ineedana.com/search