Stupak's Antiabortion Amendment Would Negatively Affect Low-Income Women, Detroit Free Press Editorial Says

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 16 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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"There are principled stands against abortion," but "there's nothing principled about" Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) antiabortion amendment to the House reform bill (HR 3962), which "goes far beyond current federal law," a Detroit Free Press editorial states. The amendment would "in effect preven[t] insurance companies from participating in the bill's insurance exchanges -- where many low-income families and small businesses will go for their policies -- unless they exclude abortion coverage from any policy that might be purchased by someone who qualifies for a federal subsidy."

The editorial continues, "The amendment may motivate some insurance companies to drop all plans that cover abortions, which would affect far more than just the women whose policies are federally subsidized." It adds, "And if the exchange is expanded to include large employers, ... the amendment could threaten an even wider group of women." According to the editorial, the amendment is "cruel and arbitrary, but not even a real stand against abortion, just a move that panders to the most rabid antiabortion forces." It concludes, "Michigan needed Stupak to be better than that on health reform. It now falls to the U.S. Senate to take a more principled approach to the issue" (Detroit Free Press, 11/12).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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