Texas set to restrict insurance coverage for abortion
A bill requiring women to purchase extra insurance to cover abortions except amid medical emergencies already cleared the state House after hours of emotional debate.
State lawmakers debated other bills limiting insurance coverage for abortion during
Ten states already have laws restricting insurance coverage of abortion in all private insurance plans:
The measure's House sponsor, Republican Rep.
"What we're saying here is: If you want to buy this coverage, you can buy it," said Smithee, a Republican from
Outnumbered
Rep.
"I think we all agree, rape, sexual assault, incest are horrible crimes," said Turner, of the
"One of the talking points we've heard lately is abortion should be considered health care,"
State policy analyst
"My sense is that there isn't any identifiable impact of these restrictions since most women pay out of pocket already," Nash said by email.
A Guttmacher analysis in March said about 60 percent of privately insured abortion patients pay out of pocket, because their policy doesn't cover the procedure or because deductibles are high. But many women who get abortions are too poor to afford private insurance.
The insurance bans also have been criticized by the
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