As a Riverside resident expecting my second child this fall, I recently saw firsthand how a new Illinois law, the Birth Equity Act, directly impacts families like mine. The Birth Equity Act mandates that Illinois health insurance cover pregnancy-related care, including abortion, pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care, along with doula and midwife support, without extra costs like copays or deductibles.
After a difficult birth with my first child, I experienced postpartum depression. During labor, my doula helped slow things down so I could stay grounded, even as my high-risk pregnancy led to decisions that weren’t part of my original birth plan. A postpartum doula mattered just as much. After two failed inductions that ended in a C-section, my husband and I came home exhausted. An overnight doula helped us get the rest we needed while also giving me space to recover from surgery.
As a woman of color, I know how important it is that maternal health policies address disparities in postpartum care and support. That’s why Illinois’ Birth Equity Act is so important. In expanding coverage for this vital care, families like mine have the support they need before, during, and after pregnancy. This is an important step toward improving maternal health and equity. This is reproductive justice.
As I prepare to welcome a baby this October and anticipate another C-section, I contacted Sen. Mike Porfirio to ask how the new law would apply to my health plan. When I first reached out to my insurer, there was no clear information about when the new doula coverage would take effect. Sen. Porfirio personally contacted the Illinois Department of Insurance on my behalf, and soon after I received written confirmation that doula coverage under the Birth Equity Act will become available through my plan this summer.
Receiving this confirmation gave me great peace of mind. It means these services will be covered by my health insurance plan, not another out-of-pocket expense for our family.
I’m grateful to live in a community where our elected officials listen and champion policies that support working families. Laws like the Birth Equity Act show how decisions made in Springfield can make a real difference for families like mine.
Eleanor Grano, Riverside