Missouri bans abortion. Here’s what to know about accessing reproductive care in IL
As Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturned landmark precedent Roe v. Wade, abortion has been banned in Missouri and will soon be banned in other states through the use of so-called “trigger laws.”
A 2019 clause in Missouri dictates “no abortion shall be performed or induced upon a woman, except in cases of medical emergency” if one of three conditions is met. The reversal of Roe v. Wade, in whole or partially, fulfills the requirements for the legislation.
The law makes no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. While a patient who receives an abortion will not be prosecuted for violating the statute, a provider can be charged with a class B felony and lose their professional license.
Here’s more information about Missouri’s trigger law, from The Kansas City Star.
The right to abortion is enshrined in Illinois law, and will remain protected, Gov. J.B. Pritzker assured in May.
Illinois was already a destination state for many seeking abortions from elsewhere in the country, but Missouri’s abortion ban is likely to send even more individuals across state borders.
Here’s some information about how to find and access reproductive health care in Illinois.
Abortion laws in Illinois
The right to an abortion is established in Illinois state law and will be preserved. The state does not heavily restrict the procedure, and its parental notification requirement ended June 1.
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.
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 email support@midwestaccesscoalition.org
Clinics that offer abortion care in Illinois
Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City: Hope Clinic for Women offers onsite abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Physicians provide medical and surgical abortions, depending on the patient’s gestation.
There’s a variety of counseling services available, including for contraceptives, pregnancy options, abortion information only and post-abortion.
Hope Clinic says all its counseling and education services are LGBTQIA+ affirming and sex positive.
Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights: 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 six 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
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 9:53 AM.
