Abortion options in health care
In an effort to restrict tax credits used to pay for abortions, Senator Max Baucus (D, Montana) has penned a bill that has further delayed the progress of the health-care reform bill before congress. The abortion bill would allow exceptions only in the case of rape or incest or if the life of a pregnant woman were in danger.
Senator Orrin Hatch (R, Utah), proposed even stricter provisions that would deny any money provided under the legislation could be used to cover “any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion.” Hatch’s version allowed almost no exceptions.
The proposal has been rejected by the Senate Finance Committee according to NYTimes.com; the 13-10 vote followed party lines with descending votes coming only from Senator Conrad (D, North Dakota) and Senator Snowe (R, Maine).
The bill proposes that health plans and abortion coverage would differ, but that private insurance plans permitting the coverage of abortion would be required to segregate money — taken from private premiums — to cover the procedure. Insured individuals could opt for a separate supplemental policy that would cover abortions, but that individuals would be responsible for opting for and paying the supplemental insurance offering such coverage.