GOP Abortion Opponent Realizes That His Own Party's Amendment Helped Cover Abortions

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 90 percent of health insurance plans offered to lawmakers and congressional staff cover abortion, an unforeseen consequence of a Republican amendment to President Barack Obama's health law.

The disclosure Wednesday by abortion opponent Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., also highlights an emerging issue nationally: It may be hard for individual consumers to determine whether abortion is a covered benefit in plans offered through the new online insurance markets.

For government insiders, there's another twist: Lawmakers and their staffs now appear to be the only federal employees with access to abortion coverage through their government-supported health insurance plans.

Smith said only nine of the 112 insurance plans offered to members of Congress and their staffs through the Washington, D.C., insurance market exclude abortion as a covered benefit.

"It was incredibly confusing, if not impossible, to find out," said Smith. "That is what's happening in state after state. People cannot find out if plans on the exchange include abortion."



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/gop-abortion_n_4387077.html