Illinois Expands Insurance, Medicaid Coverage for Stuttering Therapy Under New Law (Springfield, IL) – Illinois children and young adults who stutter will have expanded access to speech therapy under a new law championed by State Sen. Willie Preston and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker.
Senate Bill 2899 expands insurance coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy for stuttering, aiming to make treatment more accessible for families across the state.
“Too many young people who stutter face barriers to getting the care they need,” said Preston, D-Chicago. “This law helps remove those barriers and ensures more families can access critical treatment and support services.”
Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, health insurance plans will be required to cover rehabilitative speech therapy for stuttering. Current law covers habilitative services for children under age 19 who have early-acquired speech-language disorders, including stuttering.
The legislation also expands Medicaid coverage by requiring the program to pay for both habilitative and rehabilitative stuttering therapies for individuals 21 years old and younger.
Preston said his advocacy for the measure is rooted in his own experience.
“I know firsthand how challenging it can be to live with a stutter,” Preston said. “When you struggle to communicate, it can affect every part of your life. This law is about making sure young people have access to the tools, support and treatment they need to find their voice and be heard.”
Supporters say the law will help reduce financial barriers to treatment and improve access to speech-language pathology services for young Illinois residents.
Senate Bill 2899 was signed into law Thursday and takes effect July 1, with the expanded insurance coverage provisions beginning Jan. 1, 2028.
Illinois Expands Insurance, Medicaid Coverage for Stuttering Therapy Under New Law
