If the abortion is performed for criminal or medical reasons, the costs are covered by your health insurance and billed by your doctor via the electronic health card (eGK). A prior application for cost coverage is not required. This applies in the following two situations:

• If, from a medical standpoint, the termination of pregnancy is necessary to avert a danger to your life or the risk of serious impairment to your physical or mental health, the health insurance provider will cover the costs of the termination. In this case, it is not necessary to apply to the health insurance provider for coverage, as the doctor makes the necessary determination.
• If the pregnancy is to be terminated because it is the result of a crime against sexual autonomy—for example, in the case of rape—the health insurance provider will cover the costs of the abortion if no more than 12 weeks have passed since conception. In this case, it is not necessary to apply to the health insurance provider for coverage, as the doctor will make the necessary determinations.

If the termination of pregnancy is performed for other reasons, it is unlawful but not a criminal offense provided the following conditions are fully met:

• You must provide the doctor with a certificate from a recognized pregnancy conflict counseling center proving that you received counseling at such a center at least 3 days before the procedure.
• A doctor performs the termination. 
• No more than 12 weeks have passed since conception. 

In this case, the health insurance provider covers the costs for: 

• medical counseling regarding continuing or terminating the pregnancy,
• medical treatment, with the exception of the termination itself and follow-up care in cases without complications,
• the provision of medications, bandages, and medical supplies, as well as
• hospital treatment

The costs for the medical procedure to terminate the pregnancy itself, as well as for post-procedure medical care in cases without complications, are not covered by health insurance. 

However, if you have no income or a low income, you may, in certain cases, apply to your statutory health insurance provider to have the costs of these services covered. This is the case, for example, if you are considered to be in need of social assistance.