We are very fortunate in Illinois to have Medicaid coverage for abortion for women under various circumstances. It was so wonderful to have this option available for an 11 year old patient we saw who had been assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend and became pregnant. She was so sweet, kind, and obviously had no idea what being pregnant meant. She was just trying to be a fifth grader and do all the normal things one does in fifth grade. Some of the OR staff at the hospital are not fans of what we do and the services we provide. However, when the staff heard about this young girl, everyone banded together to help us get the dilators placed, take care of her while she stayed in the hospital, and provide her with an abortion procedure. While I can’t imagine what effect this experience will have on her, at least she was able to return to school and be with her friends. This situation is by no means limited to Chicago and highlights the importance for insurance coverage for this life-changing and life-saving procedure.