Three Years Post-Dobbs, Illinois Is Holding the Line on Abortion Access
Media Contact:
Eleanor Grano, Communications Manager, Chicago Abortion Fund
Email: communications@chicagoabortionfund.org
Phone: 312-219-1611
CHICAGO, IL — June 24, 2025 — As the country marks three years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, new national data confirms what the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) has seen firsthand: abortion access hasn’t disappeared—it’s been displaced, and Illinois is shouldering the weight.
According to new data from the Guttmacher Institute released on June 24, more than 1 million abortions were provided by clinicians in U.S. states without total bans in 2024. About 1 in 7 people who had an abortion crossed state lines to do so, and nearly 1 in 4 of those abortion seekers came to Illinois. Illinois remains the number one receiving state for people traveling for abortion care, providing over 35,000 abortions to out-of-state abortion seekers last year.
Since June 2022, CAF has:
Fielded over 40,000 support requests on the CAF Helpline
Distributed over $15 million in abortion and wrap-around support funding, including travel, lodging, and childcare expenses.
Increased the average support pledged to each caller to $1,000 dollars. This includes procedure costs, travel, lodging, and childcare
Responded to high call volumes from Indiana (7,911), Illinois (6,244), Wisconsin (3,554), Texas (3,540), and Kentucky (1,401), and supported abortion seekers from over 40 states
“We’re seeing what happens when states ban or restrict abortion: people are forced to leave home, stretch finances, and risk their health just to get basic care,” said Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund. “CAF is here to catch them when their states let them fall.”
Illinois as a National Model for Abortion Access
Illinois is now home to the highest percentage of out-of-state abortion seekers in the country. In 2024, 39% of abortions in Illinois were for patients traveling from other states, according to the Guttmacher Institute—an outcome made possible by the state’s shield laws, public investments, and strong provider-abortion fund collaboration.
Recent research from Resound Research for Reproductive Health found that the most important factor for people traveling out of state for abortion care was how quickly they could get an appointment. CAF’s innovative programs centering patient navigation and clinic partnerships help ensure abortion seekers can quickly access care on the timeline they need.
CAF plays a critical role in sustaining this access. Since the Dobbs ruling CAF has:
Expanded Helpline staffing, including bilingual and after-hours support
Launched a first in the nation hospital navigation program for complex abortion care
Partnered with 7 abortion clinics and one hospital statewide to embed in-clinic patient navigators that can streamline access to CAF’s support
As the largest independent abortion fund in the country, CAF’s work has never been more urgent or more impactful. In 2024 alone, the organization:
Fielded more than 16,000 support requests
Distributed over $7 million in direct assistance
“Illinois is showing what’s possible when you pair legal protection with real investment,” said Jeyifo. “Every day, we support people who are forced to flee their home states to access healthcare. We’re not just helping them get to their appointments—we’re walking with them the whole way.”
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) is the largest independent abortion fund in the country. For 40 years, we've been tearing down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. We’re not just providing funding; we’re supporting our callers in accessing freedom, dignity, and autonomy.
CAF offers support for people seeking abortion care in Illinois including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise. The organization has relationships with abortion clinics across 12 states, and supports people nationwide. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has received support requests from over 40,000 people. In 2024 alone, CAF fielded over 16,000 support requests and distributed over $7 million in direct assistance.