Abortion Funding 

How do I know if I'm eligible?

Funding is available to those living in or traveling to Maryland for abortion care. We do not have income, age, or gestational limits.

Do I need an appointment before calling?

You do not need an appointment before calling, but you will need to have one set up for BAF to confirm how much funding we can provide. If you are not sure which clinic to call or how to set up an appointment, we can support you with a referral. If you know where you want to schedule, we suggest scheduling before calling; be sure to ask the clinic for the procedure cost.

What is the best time to call BAF?

BAF operates a warmline, so there is no "good" or "bad" time to call. You can call at any time and leave a message. If you’d prefer not to call, you can fill out our client intake form. 

How far in advance should I call?

We focus on funding for the week we are in and early the following week. We recommend calling no more than 5-7 days before your appointment.

Can you accommodate same-day appointments?

48 hours' notice is needed for a Case Manager to call back before your appointment. We will do our best to respond to all inquiries.

I left a message; what happens now?

We will call you back within 72 hours (weekend and holidays permitting) and have a 5-15 minute phone conversation. We will ask you questions to better understand your funding needs, confirm how much support we can offer, explain the next steps, and make referrals if needed.

I had to reschedule; what happens to BAF’s pledge?

BAF can honor our original pledge if your new appointment is still within our service area. Please call us with the new appointment date so we can send an updated pledge to the clinic. 

How does BAF pay for my care? 

We send financial pledges directly to the clinic on behalf of the client. We do not offer direct payment to clients. 

English isn't my first language; do you offer translation services?

Yes. We offer translation services through a confidential third-party language service. 

How will you maintain confidentiality? I don’t want anyone to know I’m having an abortion.

All of your information is kept confidential. We will never share your information with anyone outside of our organization. 

I already had my appointment but I just found out about BAF; can you reimburse me?

Unfortunately, we cannot retroactively pay for care.

What clinics do you work with?

BAF currently funds the following clinics in Maryland:

• Carafem
• Femi-care Surgery Center
• Gynemed Surgical Center
• Hagerstown Reproductive Services
• Hillcrest Clinic
• Metro Area Modern Reproductive Care
• Partners in Abortion Care
• Planned Parenthood locations: Annapolis, Baltimore, Easton, Frederick, Towson, Owings Mills, Gaithersburg, Waldorf, and Suitland
• Potomac Family Planning Center
• Silver Spring Gynecology & Family Planning
• Whole Woman's Health of Baltimore
  

We work with additional clinics outside of Maryland. Please reach out to us if you are a Maryland resident going to a clinic that is not on this list, as we may still be able to help.

Practical Support 

Are your services free?

Yes, all of our services are free. We won’t ever ask you to pay for a ride or for any other services that we have agreed to provide to you. We do sometimes require a participant to provide their own credit/debit card for hotel incidentals, but we are willing to work with you if that is not something you have access to.

Can people outside of Maryland get support?

We provide support to people from Maryland seeking abortion care and people coming to Maryland seeking abortion care. For example, if you are from Virginia and need lodging for an appointment at a clinic located in Maryland, we are here to help!

How much notice do you need in order to provide support?

We encourage you to call us as soon as you schedule your appointment. At a minimum, we ask that you do your best to give us at least 1-2 days' notice. We cannot guarantee service if you call us on the same day of your appointment but we will do our best.

Why does the phone go to voicemail when I call?

Our line is a “warmline,” meaning we don’t have people available to answer the phone but we will get back to you within 24 - 48 hours of your call. In order to keep the line as secure as possible, the voicemail inbox is only accessible to a few people at BAF.

What clinics do you work with?

BAF is currently partnering with a small group of clinics in and around Maryland. We look forward to growing this list as we grow our volunteer base. Right now, those clinics are:

• Dupont Clinic in Washington, D.C.
• Gynemed Surgical Center in Rosedale, Maryland
• Hillcrest Clinic in Baltimore, Maryland
• Partners in Abortion Care in College Park, Maryland
• Planned Parenthood of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland 
• Potomac Family Planning Center in Rockville, Maryland
• Whole Women’s Health in Baltimore, Maryland

Please reach out to us if you are going to a clinic that is not on this list, as we may still be able to help.

How will you maintain confidentiality? I don’t want anyone to know I’m having an abortion.

All of your information is kept confidential; only BAF's staff and board have access to it. All of our transportation options are staff, volunteer, or ride-share vehicles that are unmarked. To everyone else, it will look like you are getting into an Uber/Lyft.

What kind of training do your volunteers receive?

Volunteers complete a phone interview, background check, and a 4-hour training.

Do I need an appointment before calling?

You do not need an appointment before calling, but you will need to have one set up before we can coordinate logistics. If you are unsure of which clinic to call or how to set up an appointment, we can support you with a referral.

What is the best time to call BAF?

BAF operates a warmline; there is no "good" or "bad" time to call. You can call at any time and leave a message. If you’d prefer not to call, you can fill out our client intake form.

Emergency Contraceptive Kits

How do I order an Emergency Contraceptive Kit (EC Kit)?

You can order your kit online using this form. If the form is not accessible to you or you have questions, please feel free to reach out to us by texting (443) 406-6699. 

What comes in the kit?

Each kit has 1 pack of Plan B One-Step, 2 pregnancy test strips, 5 condoms, and 1 urine cup (for use with the pregnancy test strips). The kits also have a sheet explaining how to correctly use each of these materials. 

What does the kit look like? 

Kits are mailed via USPS in discrete padded mailers. (Add pics of outside and inside of kit here). 

When can I expect to receive my kit?

Kits are mailed out on Wednesdays and generally arrive by the following Monday. To receive your kit within the same week, please complete the order form by 5 pm on Tuesday. For example, if you complete your form on Monday, March 6 you can expect to receive it by Monday, March 13. 

Who is eligible to receive an emergency contraception kit?

We are currently providing kits to residents of all 23 counties in Maryland and Baltimore City.

People of any gender and age are eligible to receive a kit. We can only provide one kit a month to each household. If you need kits for additional people within the same household, please text us at (443) 406-6699 to discuss.

Where else can I get these supplies if I am outside of the counties you serve?

If you are not within our current service area or need these supplies more frequently than we can provide them, there are some other places that you can get them. 

• Your local health department can most likely provide these supplies for free or at a sliding scale fee. Similarly, Planned Parenthood of Maryland provides these resources either using your insurance or at a sliding scale fee.
• Check out your local Planned Parenthood for more info.
• Title X clinics throughout the state provide free emergency contraception and other forms of reproductive health care to those who qualify. Contact your local Title X clinic for more info. 

How does Plan B work?

You can learn more about how Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception (EC) work here. 

It is important to note that Plan B may be less effective for people who weigh more than 165 pounds. For people between 165 and 195 pounds, Ella (which is available by prescription only) may be a more effective option. 

Plan B is also most effective when used within the first 3 days of unprotected sex. This is why we recommend ordering an emergency contraceptive to have on hand, in case you need it in the future. 

How do I use the pregnancy test strips?

If you can’t find the instruction sheet that came in your kit, you can find more information on how to use the pregnancy test strips here. 

How do I correctly put on a condom?

You can learn more about correct condom use here.