In California, a minor can consent to an abortion on her own. No parent has to agree, no parent has to be told, and no judge has to sign off. California abortion rights for minors are among the strongest in the country, backed by statute, the state constitution, and a California Supreme Court decision that struck down parental-involvement requirements more than twenty-five years ago.
No Parental Consent or Notification
Family Code Section 6925 lets a minor consent to medical care related to the prevention or treatment of pregnancy, and that includes abortion.1California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 6925 – Consent by Minor The minor’s own signature is legally sufficient. A provider does not need permission from a parent, a guardian, or a court to perform the procedure.
The California Supreme Court settled the constitutional question in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren (1997), which struck down a law requiring parental consent or judicial authorization for a minor’s abortion. The court held that the law violated the right to privacy in Article I, Section 1 of the state constitution.2Justia. American Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren Because of that ruling, California has no judicial bypass process. There is nothing to bypass. A minor walks into a provider’s office with the same legal authority to consent as an adult.
One boundary worth knowing: California allows abortion before fetal viability, which is a medical judgment made by the treating physician, not a set gestational week. After viability, an abortion is still permitted if continuing the pregnancy would risk the life or health of the pregnant person.3California Legislative Information. California Health and Safety Code 1234684California Department of Public Health. Your Legal Right to an Abortion
Keeping It Confidential From a Parent
Medical Records
A provider cannot disclose a minor’s abortion to a parent or guardian without the minor’s specific, signed written consent authorizing that disclosure.5California Department of Public Health. Consent and Confidentiality Rights of Minors Health and Safety Code Section 123110 gives a minor who consented to her own care the right to control access to the records of that care. A parent’s general right to see their child’s medical records does not extend to services the minor consented to independently.6California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 123110
Insurance Paperwork
If a minor is on a parent’s health plan, this is the piece to handle before the appointment. Civil Code Section 56.107 requires a health plan to honor a “confidential communication request” when the enrollee states that the communication involves sensitive services or that disclosure could endanger her.7California Legislative Information. California Civil Code 56107 Once the request is in, the plan has to redirect Explanation of Benefits forms and other communications to the minor instead of the policyholder. Electronic or phone requests must be implemented within seven days, mailed requests within fourteen. The protection is not automatic. A minor using a parent’s insurance has to submit the request, or the paperwork will go to the policyholder’s address like any other claim.
Digital Records
AB 352 requires businesses that store medical information electronically to segregate abortion-related records from the rest of a patient’s file, and it prohibits providers, health plans, and their contractors from disclosing abortion-related information to individuals or entities in other states, with narrow exceptions for payment processing and written patient authorization.8California Legislative Information. AB 352 – Reproductive Health Data Privacy That covers the medical side. It does not cover a personal phone. A minor concerned about a parent seeing app data or location history should be careful with period-tracking apps and location sharing, especially on family accounts a parent can view.
Paying for an Abortion
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal covers abortion as a benefit with no gestational limit, no requirement for medical justification, and no prior authorization.9Medi-Cal. Abortion Services and Directly Related Medical Services and Supplies A minor already enrolled in Medi-Cal through a family plan can use that coverage at no cost, and the confidentiality rules above still apply to keep the service private from parents.10California Department of Public Health. How to Pay for an Abortion
There is a gap that surprises people. California’s Medi-Cal Minor Consent Program lets minors enroll on their own for confidential limited-scope services like family planning and pregnancy-related care, but the Minor Consent Program does not cover abortion.11California Department of Health Care Services. Minor Consent Services Eligibility A minor who is not already enrolled in Medi-Cal and cannot go through a parent will need to work with the clinic directly. Many clinics have staff who help patients enroll or find other funding.
Private Insurance, Sliding Scale, and Abortion Funds
Private plans in California generally cover abortion, and the Civil Code 56.107 confidential communication request is the tool for keeping it off a parent’s paperwork.7California Legislative Information. California Civil Code 56107 Without insurance, medication abortion typically costs up to $800 and a first-trimester procedural abortion up to $1,000, though many California clinics charge less or waive fees for minors who qualify for assistance. Many clinics offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Abortion funds, grassroots organizations that help cover procedure costs and practical expenses like transportation and lodging, are another option; the National Network of Abortion Funds keeps a searchable directory at abortionfunds.org.
Finding a Provider and Getting Help
The state’s official resource is abortion.ca.gov, which lists clinics, explains financial assistance, and posts current information on legal rights.12California Surgeon General. Abortion Resources Planned Parenthood locations throughout California are set up to handle the consent and confidentiality rules that apply to minors. When scheduling, it helps to confirm the office is familiar with California’s minor consent laws and to ask what they do to protect privacy on insurance billing and records.
The ACCESS Reproductive Justice hotline offers free, confidential information, referrals, and help with transportation and lodging for minors who need to travel for care. Practical barriers can matter as much as legal ones, especially for a teenager without a car or a credit card.
Minors Traveling From Other States
California’s shield law, AB 1242, bars state and local law enforcement from arresting anyone for obtaining or performing an abortion that is lawful under California law. It also stops California agencies from cooperating with or providing information to out-of-state authorities investigating an abortion performed legally here.13California Legislative Information. AB 1242 – Reproductive Rights Protection California courts cannot issue subpoenas tied to another state’s abortion-related proceedings, and California-based technology companies cannot turn over electronic communications data to other states for abortion enforcement. For a minor coming from a state with restrictive laws, California will not help another state punish her or her provider for a procedure that was legal where it was performed.