Abortion still legal in Illinois and Missouri. What to know about access to reproductive care
If Roe v. Wade is overturned this summer as indicated in the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion published Monday, abortion will likely be restricted or banned in Missouri and several other states. It will remain legal in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker assured Tuesday.
Pending a final ruling from the country’s highest court sometime this summer, abortion remains legal in Missouri and Illinois, and we’ve rounded up some information about how to find and access reproductive health care.
Abortion in Missouri
There is one abortion clinic in the state, and it’s a Planned Parenthood located in St. Louis. The clinic offers onsite abortions up to 21 weeks and six days after the start of a patient’s last period, and you can get an abortion pill up to 10 weeks after the beginning of your last period.
Both types of abortions require appointments in St. Louis. Here’s where to make them.
Missouri law requires a patient seeking an abortion to obtain informed consent at least 72 hours prior to the procedure.
Your partner does not have a legal right to prevent you from receiving an abortion in Missouri. If you do wish to speak with your partner about the procedure, but are apprehensive about doing so, Planned Parenthood counselors can assist you with the conversation.
If you are eligible for Medicaid and are having an abortion in the case of rape, incest or life-threatening conditions, you may be eligible to receive payment assistance. You can contact your Medicaid provider for more information.
For those who are 17 years of age or younger, consent of a parent, legal guardian or judge is required. A parent or legal guardian must be present for the procedure for minor patients.
Abortion in Illinois
The right to an abortion is established in Illinois state law and will be preserved if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark ruling.
There is currently a parental notification law in Illinois, but it will no longer be in effect as of June 1, 2022. The law requires a parent or guardian to be notified if a minor seeks an abortion, but they do not have to give permission for the patient to get the procedure.
Surgical abortion is legal in Illinois up to 22 weeks and six days post-gestation, and the abortion pill is offered up to 11 weeks and six days post-gestation.
To schedule an abortion or seek more information, call 1-800-200-7745.
Paying for an abortion in Illinois
Financial support is available for abortion patients in Illinois. Two funding programs are offered: the Chicago Abortion Fund and the Midwest Access Coalition.
Chicago Abortion Fund
Eligibility: You are eligible if you are seeking abortion care in the Midwest or if you live in the Midwest and are seeking care anywhere.
Support type: Financial assistance and logistical support is offered.
Contact: A helpline is available at 312-663-0338 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST. Patients are asked to leave a message with their name and how it’s spelled, phone number, zip code, appointment date, clinic name and location, how far along the pregnancy is, whether it is safe for the operator to leave a message and what dates/times are preferred for contact.
The information you provide will remain confidential, and messages will be returned within 24 to 36 hours.
Midwest Access Coalition
Eligibility: Eligible patients live in the Midwest and are seeking an abortion in Illinois. You must live in one of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Support type: You can receive assistance to pay for the procedure, as well as funds for lodging, transportation, gas, child care, food, medication. Logistical support is available for booking bus, plane or train transportation, including a ride to the train station or airport. Lodging hosts are available for overnight stays.
Contact: 847-750-6224 or support@midwestaccesscoalition.org
Abortion clinics in Illinois
Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights, Ill.: This clinic offers surgical abortions up to 24 weeks after the start of your last period. Abortion pills are available up to 11 weeks after the start of your last period. For abortions conducted by pill, you will need to follow up within one or two weeks to ensure the procedure was completed.
Here’s where to book an appointment.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois provides in-clinic abortions up to 19 weeks and 6 days at these locations:
- Aurora Health Center in Aurora.
- Flossmoor Health Center in Flossmoor.
- Near North Health Center in Chicago.
- Roseland Health Center in Chicago.
- Springfield Health Center in Springfield.
