SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois House Democrats passed legislation Thursday to help uninsured and underinsured people receive reproductive healthcare.

The plan could create an abortion access fund for the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Funds for the grants would come from a requirement in the Affordable Care Act that insurance companies covering abortions beyond circumstances allowed by the federal government collect at least $1 from enrollees each month.

"The bill requires that insurance companies report how much money they have sitting in this segregated account," said Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). "Then, at the end of the plan year, once they have paid for all claims, transfer 90% of what is left in that fund to the Department of Insurance."

Republicans strongly oppose the idea, noting the federal government should strike the plan down as an excessive use of funds if it becomes law. Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis) said Illinois will continue to go down the wrong way on this issue.

"Abortion clinics are opening continually throughout this state," Niemerg said. "Now we see insurance companies have been putting money into a fund that we're going to access for grants that we're going to give to folks such as Planned Parenthood to continue abortion access here in the state of Illinois." 

House Bill 5408 passed out of the House on a 69-36 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. 

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