Can I Travel to Illinois for the Abortion Pill?

Yes. You do not have to live in Illinois to get abortion care here. You can travel from any state and get the abortion pill, and you do not need an Illinois ID, an Illinois address, or any proof that you live in the state.

Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, many people have come to Illinois for this care. The state has seen about 19,000 out-of-state abortion patients in recent years, many from Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas. The Center for Women often sees patients who travel from nearby states and beyond.

Yes. Illinois has some of the strongest legal protections in the country for patients who travel here for abortion care. The state's shield laws, strengthened in 2023 and 2025, keep your medical records private, so Illinois will not share them with another state that is investigating or prosecuting abortion care. If your home state tries to take legal action against you for getting an abortion in Illinois, Illinois courts will not cooperate. The doctors who treat you are covered too, because other states cannot punish them or threaten their licenses for caring for out-of-state patients.

These protections apply from the moment you get care in Illinois, and you do not need to do anything special to be covered. Laws can change, so ask at your appointment if you have questions about the current rules.

You need very little to get the abortion pill in Illinois as an out-of-state patient:

• A valid photo ID: An ID from any state works. You do not need an Illinois ID.
• Payment: $380 in cash (for the cash discount) or a credit/debit card.

You do not need a referral or medical records from a doctor back home, and you do not have to prove you live in a state that limits abortion. All you need to do first is call and schedule your appointment.

The Center for Women is at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154, about 15 miles west of downtown Chicago. It is easy to reach by car and sits near several expressways (I-290, I-294, I-88).

Your first appointment takes about 30 minutes. You take the first pill (mifepristone) at the clinic and the second medicine (misoprostol) at home 24 to 48 hours later, so you can drive home after your visit and take the second medicine in your own home, even if that home is in another state.

If you would rather stay nearby, there are hotels in and around Westchester. The clinic staff can help you plan your visit around your travel, and same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

No. Illinois has no required waiting period for abortion care. In many other states, patients must wait 24 to 72 hours between a first visit and the abortion itself, but in Illinois you can have your consultation and take the first pill at the same appointment.

That matters if you are coming from out of state, because you do not need to make two trips. Your care can be finished in one visit, with a follow-up 1 to 2 weeks later that can often happen by phone if you traveled from far away.

A follow-up appointment is usually set for 1 to 2 weeks after your first visit to confirm the abortion is complete. If you traveled from out of state, the doctor can talk through ways to handle your follow-up.

The follow-up visit is included in your $380 cost. When you call to schedule, let the staff know you are traveling so they can help you plan.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule. Let the staff know you are traveling from out of state, and they will help you find a time that works with your plans.

Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available. The clinic is at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154. The cost is $380, and it includes your visit with the doctor, an ultrasound, both medicines, and your follow-up.