There are some special considerations if you are using insurance to cover the cost of your care.

• If you have private insurance through a parent you may not be able to use your insurance and keep your care confidential. Most private insurance companies send statements in the mail or electronically that explain the medical care provided in detail. We will help you find financial assistance if you cannot use your insurance and you cannot afford to pay for all of your care out of pocket.
• Your care should be covered confidentially without any information being sent via mail or electronically to your family, if you have Illinois Medicaid coverage.
• When you use a credit or debit card to make a payment, the charge will state ‘Family Planning Associates’. Anyone who has access to the account will be able to view the charge.

When you take a medication to the pharmacy, that medication will become part of your record and usually is automatically billed to your insurance.

• Your parent may have an email or text alert set up to notify them when a medication is ready for pickup.
• The safest option if you do not want your family know about your prescription medication, is to use a different pharmacy chain from the one your family normally uses.
• Make sure to ask the pharmacy staff if you have ever had a prescription filled with that chain and if they have any information on file for you.
• Remember to request to pay out of pocket for your medications. You can use programs like Good RX for discounted prices.

There are some special considerations if you are using insurance to cover the cost of your care.

• If you have private insurance through a parent you may not be able to use your insurance and keep your care confidential. Most private insurance companies send statements in the mail or electronically that explain the medical care provided in detail. We will help you find financial assistance if you cannot use your insurance and you cannot afford to pay for all of your care out of pocket.
• Your care should be covered confidentially without any information being sent via mail or electronically to your family, if you have Illinois Medicaid coverage.
• When you use a credit or debit card to make a payment, the charge will state ‘Family Planning Associates’. Anyone who has access to the account will be able to view the charge.

When you take a medication to the pharmacy, that medication will become part of your record and usually is automatically billed to your insurance.

• Your parent may have an email or text alert set up to notify them when a medication is ready for pickup.
• The safest option if you do not want your family know about your prescription medication, is to use a different pharmacy chain from the one your family normally uses.
• Make sure to ask the pharmacy staff if you have ever had a prescription filled with that chain and if they have any information on file for you.
• Remember to request to pay out of pocket for your medications. You can use programs like Good RX for discounted prices.

If you have a unique concern or special request that would help us protect your privacy, please inform our staff.

Insurance companies will only cover services for patients who are listed on the insurance policy. Since your partner will not be receiving medical treatment from our facility we cannot bill their insurance company for the service unless you are also listed on the plan as a spouse or a domestic partner.

We will never notify your partner about your medical care with our your permission. However, if you are using health insurance that has your partner listed as the ‘primary’ on the policy (for example if the insurance is through their job), it is possible that your partner may have access to the billing information we provide to your insurance company. If this is a concern for you, we recommend that you contact your insurance company to discuss their policy on confidential services.

Our fees are based on the length of pregnancy and your out of pocket cost will depend on your insurance coverage. Often insurance can help to reduce your out of pocket expenses.

Since January 1, 2018 Illinois Medicaid includes coverage for abortion care. If you have current Illinois coverage or are eligible and willing to apply for coverage we can provide free abortion services for you. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete the application and it can be done online.

Once you have been approved for Illinois Medicaid coverage we will be able to provide you with a free medication abortion up to 10.0 weeks, free in-office abortion procedure with sedation (asleep) or awake (local anesthesia) up to 13.6 weeks, or free second trimester abortion care including cervical preparation and sedation.

If you would like to know if you are eligible for Illinois Medicaid coverage click here to visit the ABE website for more detailed information.

If you live outside of Illinois or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid, please know that Family Planning Associates does offer affordable abortion, gynecological care, and family planning services. While abortion services are not free of charge entirely we will do everything we can to help you get the financial assistance you need. Please let one of our staff members know if you are facing financial hardship and need help with your payment.

Please call us for more information. We will work with you and help you obtain financial assistance so that you can come in as soon as possible for the care that you need.

If there are changes to your insurance just let us know as soon as possible. When you arrive at our facility the receptionist will ask to see your insurance card and your photo identification. Please be prepared with these items or contact us before your appointment to make alternative arrangements.

If your insurance plan requires a referral, it is your responsibility to contact your primary care physician or insurance company before your visit with Family Planning Associates. If you do not have an authorized referral on the day of your appointment, we will not be able to bill your insurance for your services.

We strongly recommend that you have your referral sent to our office before your appointment. It can be sent to us via fax at (312) 707-9223 or email at info@fpachicago.com. Sometimes the referrals we receive have errors. If your physician’s office is closed or unable to respond to same day requests, we may not be able to get a corrected copy of the referral on the same day.

When we verify your eligibility and benefits, we ask your insurance company detailed questions about your coverage. If you have a deductible or co-insurance, payment due that means you have not met (paid in full) your deductible for the year or perhaps your insurance company only covers part of the cost associated with your services.

Any payment that you make to FPA will be reported to your insurance company, at your request. This means that your payment to us will help lower your out of pocket insurance costs for the rest of the year, in most cases.

When you schedule an appointment for an abortion services or a gynecological service we will ask that you provide us with your insurance information. We do this as a courtesy for our patients. Once we have this information we can verify your insurance coverage and let you know about your benefit details before you come in for services. This information will allow you to financially prepare for your visit.

We are misquoted benefits on a rare occasion from an insurance carrier. Sometimes your coverage has ended or your particular policy does not cover elective procedures. In these cases, we may ask for a reduced balance, typically the uninsured rate.

If you have any additional questions, please call 312-707-8988 and ask to speak with the insurance department.