In the month of Women’s Health Month and Mental Health Awareness, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) affirmed its commitment to covering abortion care for all Medicaid customers in the state of Illinois. As a freedom of choice state, Illinois is one of only 16 states that uses state funds to cover abortions for people enrolled in Medicaid. The department covers both surgical and medical abortion services. Illinois state law (Public Act 101-0013) affirmatively provides a right to reproductive healthcare, including abortion and maternity care.

Medicaid Health Insurance for Pregnant Women
HFS has two programs for pregnant women regardless of US citizenship or immigration status, for incomes up to 213 percent of the federal poverty line:

• Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (MPE) offers immediate, temporary coverage for outpatient healthcare for pregnant women. The department has worked to add more eligible health care providers into the MPE program

• Moms & Babies covers healthcare for women while they are pregnant and for 12 months after the baby is born, regardless of whether the pregnancy ended as a result of birth, miscarriage, or abortion and regardless of whether the individual signed an adoption agreement. Moms & Babies coverage is the full Medicaid benefit package. This includes coverage for hospital care, including labor and delivery, primary and specialty care, and prescription drugs.

Moms & Babies can cover up to three months of coverage retroactively. This includes covering individuals who are no longer pregnant when they apply, but who were pregnant at any time during the three months prior to the date of application. Individuals with coverage under Moms & Babies stay covered with full Medicaid benefits for 12 months postpartum, regardless of how the pregnancy ends.