Revealing that they’ve been the victim of a sexual assault is a frightening task for any survivor.

And if a private insurer is billed for the cost of treatment, family members may learn about the attack through insurance documents.

A proposal in Springfield would change that, protecting survivors who don’t want their cases revealed.

“The way insurance billing works – it’s not unusual for a person to be on someone else’s insurance, whether that’s a partner, parent or spouse,” said Carrie Ward, chief executive officer of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “They may not want [someone] who is the primary [insurance holder] to be informed of the sexual assault that they have experienced.”

Ward joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss how the bill will help survivors navigate health care barriers.