Privacy and Confidentiality at an Abortion Clinic in Illinois

Yes. Your abortion care is confidential. Federal law (HIPAA) and Illinois state law both protect your medical records from being shared without your written permission. No one — not your parents, partner, employer, or another state's government — can access your records without your consent.

At The Center for Women, your visit is treated with the same privacy protections as any other medical appointment. The staff does not discuss your care with anyone unless you specifically authorize it. Your records are stored securely and are only accessible to the medical team involved in your care.

Illinois has some of the strongest privacy protections for abortion care in the country. These protections apply to all patients, whether you live in Illinois or are traveling from another state.

No, unless you choose to tell them. Illinois does not require parental consent or parental notification for abortion care, regardless of your age. The state repealed its Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 2022.

If you are under 18, you can schedule and receive abortion care without a parent or guardian being contacted. Your medical records will not be sent to your parents, and the clinic will not call your home to discuss your visit.

If you are on a parent's health insurance plan and are concerned about an Explanation of Benefits being mailed to the policyholder, you can choose to pay out of pocket. At The Center for Women, the all-inclusive cost is $380, which covers everything. Paying directly means no insurance claim is filed and no paperwork is sent to anyone else.

Not unless you tell them. Illinois does not require spousal consent or notification for abortion care. Your medical decisions are yours alone, and the clinic is legally prohibited from sharing your information with your partner or spouse.

HIPAA protections mean that even if your partner calls the clinic and asks about you, the staff cannot confirm or deny that you are a patient. This protection applies regardless of your marital status.

If you are in a situation where you are concerned about a partner monitoring your phone, email, or mail, let the clinic staff know when you call. They can work with you to communicate in a way that protects your privacy, such as using a specific phone number or avoiding written correspondence.

No. Your employer cannot access your medical records. HIPAA strictly prohibits healthcare providers from sharing your health information with your employer without your explicit written authorization.

If you use employer-provided health insurance for your visit, an Explanation of Benefits may be sent to the plan administrator. However, these documents typically list general medical codes rather than specific procedure descriptions. If you want to avoid any connection to your employer's insurance entirely, you can pay the $380 cost directly at The Center for Women.

Illinois law provides additional protections. Your employer cannot fire you, demote you, or take any adverse action against you for seeking abortion care. Reproductive healthcare decisions are private and are not your employer's business.

Illinois shield laws protect your privacy even if you live in a state where abortion is banned or restricted. Your medical records cannot be shared with another state's law enforcement, attorney general, or courts.

These shield laws were specifically designed to protect out-of-state patients after the Dobbs decision in 2022. They prevent Illinois from cooperating with investigations or legal proceedings from other states related to abortion care received in Illinois. Illinois courts will not honor out-of-state subpoenas for your medical records.

Your home state cannot compel the clinic to disclose any information about your visit. The protections apply from the moment you step into the clinic through all future requests for your records. Even if your state passes new laws targeting patients who travel for abortion care, Illinois law shields you from those enforcement efforts.

At The Center for Women, the staff is trained in these protections and takes patient privacy seriously. If you have specific concerns about your situation, you can discuss them with the clinic when you call to schedule.

HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that protects your medical information. Under HIPAA, healthcare providers like The Center for Women cannot share your health records with anyone without your written authorization, except in very limited circumstances required by law.

HIPAA protections include your medical records, appointment information, test results, and billing records. The clinic cannot confirm to anyone that you are a patient, what services you received, or when you visited. These protections apply whether someone contacts the clinic by phone, mail, email, or in person.

In 2024, the federal government strengthened HIPAA protections specifically for reproductive healthcare. The updated rules prohibit healthcare providers from disclosing reproductive health information for the purpose of investigating or penalizing patients who received lawful abortion care.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule your appointment. Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

The clinic is located at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154. The abortion pill costs $380, which covers your provider appointment, ultrasound, medications, and follow-up visit. All visits are confidential, and the staff can work with you to address any specific privacy concerns you may have.