Illinois Abortion Patients Jump 54 Percent Since Roe V. Wade Ruling

CHICAGO — Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion patients in Illinois have increased by 54 percent, Planned Parenthood of Illinois announced on Monday.

Even before the Supreme Court overturned the law that kept abortion legal across the United States, state officials announced that they expected an influx of women to come to Illinois from states where the procedure would be illegal following the court’s decision.

Abortions over 16 weeks gestational age make up 13 percent of all procedural abortions, compared to 8 percent before the Supreme Court’s decision, which came down on June 24, 2022. The number of patients needing financial assistance or travel support to get care at Planned Parenthood Illinois locations has more than doubled in the year since the court’s ruling, Planned Parenthood officials said.

“The Supreme Court stripped away a fundamental right, causing devastating consequences for our patients, especially those forced to travel for care,” Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said in a news release.

“People should have the freedom to control their own body without political or corporate interference. This includes access to all abortion options and gender-affirming care, which is targeted by the same anti-abortion organizations and legislators. I am proud of the work (Planned Parenthood of Illinois) does to meet patients’ needs and continue to fight to expand access to care.”

Even before the court’s decision was announced last year, state officials – including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, said that Illinois would remain a safe haven for women seeking abortions. State officials said because Illinois would be the lone state in the region where abortion remains legal, Planned Parenthood and other agencies offering reproductive healthcare services would likely see a spike in the number of women coming to those clinics.

On Monday, Planned Parenthood Illinois announced that patients have traveled to Illinois from 34 different states. That included an increase of 18 percent of women who came from outside of Illinois for abortion services as compared to just 7 percent that traveled to Illinois prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The number of patients needing financial assistance or travel support for care more than doubled, Planned Parenthood Illinois said, and the average amount increased from $250 to almost $500 because of expanded distances, time delays, and costs of travel.

The agency said it provided more than $1.5 million in financial support to abortion patients through a combination of sources over the last year. Last year, Planned Parenthood officials in Illinois said that in 2020 alone, more than 10,000 women came to the state from neighboring states to have abortions performed.

In addition, Planned Parenthood clinics in Illinois opened their doors to doctors practicing at clinics in Wisconsin through a partnership, where abortion is no longer legal following the court’s decision. Welch announced that those doctors would be licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin and the ability to practice in Illinois would allow them to keep working.

“Illinois is a safe haven in the Midwest because of the pro-choice champions in Springfield,” Welch said. “Together with coalition partners, we passed a full suite of legislation that protects our patients and providers traveling from another state where there are bans and restrictions. We continue to fight for the rights of everyone to access the essential health care they need and deserve. ”