SPRINGFIELD – Medically necessary equine therapy will soon be covered by health insurance thanks to a law championed by State Senator Laura Murphy.

“There are many effective forms for therapy, but insurance roadblocks and cost barriers often leave patients without access to the care they need,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Equine therapy can support mental health and emotional growth, and soon it will be available to individuals who could benefit from this treatment but couldn’t afford it.”

Equine therapy encompasses therapies that involve interacting with horses, including specific therapies used by physical, occupational and speech therapists to engage different sensory responses for patients. It has shown positive effects for people living with PTSD, autism and many other conditions.

Under Murphy’s law, medically necessary equine therapy performed by a licensed therapist and other forms of therapeutic riding programs would be covered by health insurance providers starting Jan. 1, 2027.

“Therapy isn’t a luxury, which is why I have been working for years to ensure that different forms of therapy, including equine therapy, are accessible to the hardworking people of Illinois,” Murphy said. “When insurance companies cover treatments like equine therapy, we empower the people of Illinois and help improve outcomes for patients.”

Senate Bill 69 was signed into law by the governor on Friday. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

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