Abortion-Rights Opponents Embrace Opportunity To Restrict Coverage in Exchanges
February 15, 2013 — Abortion-rights opponents in several states are using a provision in the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) to prevent private health insurers from covering abortion in the state health insurance exchanges, NBC News reports (Fox, NBC News, 2/14).
Under the ACA, private health plans offered through state health insurance exchanges can only offer abortion coverage that is segregated from other coverage and paid for with a separate payment. The law also permits states to enact additional limits on abortion coverage in the exchanges (Women's Health Policy Report, 2/1).
At least 21 states have enacted or are considering legislation that will bar abortion coverage in the exchanges. Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe signed the latest measure (HB 1100) into law on Monday.
Gretchen Borchelt, head of state reproductive health policy at the National Women's Law Center, said that because "there is language in the [ACA] that says specifically that states can do this, states have taken it up." She added, "We are very, very concerned that women are losing access to these benefits and concerned that politicians are stepping in and interfering with a woman's ability to make her own health care decisions" (NBC News, 2/14).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
