Amendment blocks federal funding for abortions
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan coalition sought to impose stricter abortion limits on insurance sold under a new health care bill Saturday, hoping to leave their imprint on legislation otherwise crafted largely by more liberal lawmakers.
Here is how coverage of abortion would work under their proposal, which applies to policies sold in a federally regulated insurance exchange that would be set up in 2013. The bill envisions both private companies and the government offering policies in the exchange.
The amendment, written by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., would bar the new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother is in danger. The Democrats’ original legislation would have allowed the government plan to cover abortions.
The amendment also would prohibit people who receive new federal health subsidies from buying insurance plans that include abortion coverage.
The Democrats’ original bill would have allowed people getting federal subsidies to pay for abortion coverage with their own money. Abortion opponents dismissed that as an accounting gimmick.
Under the amendment, people who do not receive federal insurance subsidies could buy private insurance plans in the exchange that include abortion coverage. People who receive federal subsidies could buy separate policies covering only abortions if they use only their own money to do it.
Companies selling insurance policies covering abortions would be required to offer identical policies without the abortion coverage.
Abortion-rights supporters say private insurers will not likely offer policies with abortion coverage in the exchange because many potential buyers will be getting federal subsidies.
Around 21 million people are expected to get coverage through the exchange by 2019, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The majority of Americans who get their insurance coverage from their employers would not be affected.
Abortion-rights supporters say the restrictions in the amendment go further than current law.
A law called the Hyde amendment — which must be renewed annually — bars federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger. The restrictions apply to Medicaid, forcing states that cover abortions for low-income women to pay for them with state revenues. Separate laws apply the restrictions to the federal employee health plan, the military and overseas aid programs.
Currently abortion coverage is widely available in the private market. A Guttmacher Institute study found that 87 percent of typical employer plans covered abortion in 2002. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in 2003 found that 46 percent of workers in employer plans had abortion coverage. The studies asked different questions, which might help explain the disparity in the results.
Abortions in the first trimester typically cost between $350-$900, according to Planned Parenthood.
A health overhaul bill pending in the Senate also bars federal funding for abortion, but the language is less stringent. Discrepancies between the House and Senate measures would have to be reconciled before any final bill is passed.
Related News
Obama health care plan moves toward decisive debate in House; GOP united in oppositionNovember 7th, 2009 more images
more images
House opens debate on health care overhaul bill
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul moved toward a vote in the House Saturday after anti-abortion lawmakers won a chance to knock out language that would let people who get federal subsidies buy insurance plans that include abortion coverage. Democratic leaders were hopeful they could pass the bill, giving Obama his biggest victory since last November's historic election, no matter how the abortion issue is decided.
Abortion foe urges people to burn Pelosi, Reid in effigy to protest health care billOctober 27th, 2009 Abortion foe urges 'Burn in Hell' protestWASHINGTON — Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry is calling on people to burn effigies of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this Halloween, as part of a "Burn in Hell" video contest to protest the health care legislation in Congress. Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, said Tuesday that the contest serves as a political and spiritual statement that "gives people a chance to peacefully vent their rage."
"If Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid force us to pay for child killing and they die unrepentant, they will burn in hell for this," Terry said in a telephone interview.
Abortion proving to be major hurdle as House Democrats try to shape health care overhaul billOctober 23rd, 2009 Abortion divides House Dems in health care debateWASHINGTON — House Democrats are at an impasse over whether their remake of the nation's health care system would effectively allow federal funding of abortion. More than two dozen anti-abortion Democrats believe it would, and while their opposition is unlikely to stall the legislation in the end, they are at odds with Democratic leaders just weeks ahead of anticipated floor action on the bill.
Health care issues: Paying for abortionsOctober 9th, 2009 Health care issues: Paying for abortionsA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Would new health care legislation allow abortions to be funded with tax money?
THE POLITICS: Abortion opponents say proposed government-sponsored health insurance plans would change federal policy by paying for abortions in many cases. For years, a restriction in the law that governs Medicaid — health insurance for the poor — has barred federal funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother's life.
Senators writing health overhaul bill reject anti-abortion language sought by conservativesSeptember 30th, 2009 Senators reject stronger anti-abortion languageWASHINGTON — In a vote with far-reaching political implications, senators writing a health care overhaul Wednesday rejected a bid to strengthen anti-abortion provisions in the legislation — which could reach the Senate floor in the next two weeks. The 13-10 vote by the Senate Finance Committee could threaten support for the health care bill from some Catholics who otherwise back its broad goal of expanding coverage.
Finance Committee adopts amendment to encourage innovative care of ailing seniorsSeptember 22nd, 2009 Measure would encourage innovations for the illWASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee has adopted the first amendment to a sweeping health overhaul bill, agreeing to a measure to encourage innovative care for hospitalized Medicare patients. Approval of the amendment by Democratic Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota came late Tuesday as Democrats struggled to push forward on the first day of debate on the legislation.
Dismayed abortion-rights advocates say health care debate isn't advancing their causeSeptember 21st, 2009 Abortion-rights forces vexed by health care debateNEW YORK — For some abortion-rights activists, the debate over health care reform has been frustrating, even disheartening, as they see their political allies on the defensive and their anti-abortion rivals on the attack. The crux of the dispute is reflected in the slogan adopted by many anti-abortion activists, "Abortion is Not Health Care." The abortion-rights movement says the procedure should indeed be considered a valid health care option, as worthy of public funding as any other form of care.
Colorado abortion foes start campaign for 'personhood' amendment to state constitutionAugust 25th, 2009 Abortion foes start push for 'personhood' measureDENVER — Colorado abortion foes are launching another campaign to amend the state constitution to give legal protections to human embryos. Supporters said Tuesday they'll begin collecting signatures to get it on next year's ballot.
Health care overhaul renews battle over federal funds for abortionsAugust 5th, 2009 Gov't insurance would allow coverage for abortionWASHINGTON — Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue. Federal funds for abortions are now restricted to cases involving rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
Health overhaul legislation amended to bar requirements for abortion coverageJuly 31st, 2009 House lawmakers endorse measure opposing abortionWASHINGTON — Lawmakers have amended a sweeping health overhaul bill to ensure it does not require coverage of abortions. The anti-abortion measure was approved late Thursday in the House Energy and Commerce Committee as conservative Democrats banded with Republicans to support it.
Anti-abortion measure goes down after passing in initial vote in House committeeJuly 31st, 2009 Abortion measure passes, then fails, in HouseWASHINGTON — An anti-abortion amendment to a sweeping health overhaul bill was voted down in a House committee late Thursday — a dramatic reversal just hours after the measure initially was approved. The amendment said health care legislation moving through Congress may not impose requirements for coverage of abortion, except in limited cases.
Democratic abortion opponents say House bill could allow for govt money to end pregnanciesJuly 21st, 2009 Abortion is latest controversy in health overhaulWASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers opposed to federal funding for abortions said Tuesday the House leadership's health care bill contains a "hidden mandate" that would allow taxpayer dollars to be used to end pregnancies. It's the latest controversy to hit the health care overhaul in a week that has seen Republicans sharpen their attacks and some Democrats start to waver on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
House Dems seek to speed up health bill ban on denying coverage due to pre-existing conditionsJuly 16th, 2009 Democrats push quicker access to health coverageWASHINGTON — House Democrats want to guarantee people with pre-existing health conditions faster access to insurance coverage. Democrats on the Education and Labor Committee passed the amendment as they got to work Thursday on their portion of a sweeping health overhaul bill.
Spanish bishops urge Catholic lawmakers to vote against abortion reform billJune 18th, 2009 Spanish bishops wade into abortion fightMADRID — Spain's bishops are urging Catholic lawmakers to vote against a bill that would ease the country's abortion law. The Spanish Bishops Conference complained that legislation sponsored by the Socialist government describes abortion as a right that must be protected by the state.
House moves to stop Guantanamo funding, blocks GOP amendmentJune 18th, 2009 House rejects measure on Guantanamo closingWASHINGTON — The House has voted to deny the use of any federal money for the closing of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay next year and to impose restrictions on the transfer of detainees to the United States. But House members, in a narrow vote Thursday, defeated a Republican amendment to a 2010 spending bill that would have imposed a more blanket prohibition on the use of any funds related to closing the facility.
Loading ...