How many private insurance policies will now prohibit abortions?

[Junkdrawer]

How many receive "federal subsidies" in one form or another?

And, probably more importantly, how many private insurance policies will endeavor to increase profits by CUTTING abortion payments?

On edit:

...

The compromise brokered Friday night on the volatile issue of abortion finally secured the votes needed to pass the legislation.

As drafted, the measure denied the use of federal subsidies to purchase abortion coverage in policies sold by private insurers in the new insurance exchange, except in cases of incest, rape or when the life of the mother was in danger.

But abortion foes won far stronger restrictions that would rule out abortion coverage except in those three categories in any government-sold plan. It would also ban abortion coverage in any private plan purchased by consumers receiving federal subsidies.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33748707/ns/politics-health_care_reform/page/2

[Junkdrawer]

1. In case you missed it...

...

The compromise brokered Friday night on the volatile issue of abortion finally secured the votes needed to pass the legislation.

As drafted, the measure denied the use of federal subsidies to purchase abortion coverage in policies sold by private insurers in the new insurance exchange, except in cases of incest, rape or when the life of the mother was in danger.

But abortion foes won far stronger restrictions that would rule out abortion coverage except in those three categories in any government-sold plan. It would also ban abortion coverage in any private plan purchased by consumers receiving federal subsidies.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33748707/ns/politics-health_care_reform/page/2

[Echo In Light]

3. Hmm..hadn't thought about it. A backdoor approach to incrementally banning abortion?

[Junkdrawer]

6. Yep. Starving abortions of funds.

Married couples who already have more children than they can afford may now find an abortion out of their reach in terms of short term funds.

[Solly Mack]

8. That's exactly what it is

and it's not so backdoor either.

If they can't ban the medical procedure outright, they'll keep chipping away at it.

[theHandpuppet]

15. Exactly.

And anyone who thinks the anti-choice crowd will stop there is only fooling themselves.

[bullimiami]

5. i dont think private insurance will pay for abortions now unless its medically necessary.

i agree with them that elective abortions should not be covered.

[Junkdrawer]

7. What about couples who already have more children than they can afford?

Should those women be economically forced to carry the pregnancy to term?

And how would that affect their current children?

[eilen]

11. "Elective" births are covered.

probably because elective birth control (pills etc.) aren't on many pharmaceutical plans-- but Viagra is not considered "elective"? and is covered.

This whole "elective" concept when it comes to reproductive health is criminal and unduly repressive on women. Republicans prefer their abortions delayed and preformed in a battlefield.

[PeaceNikki]

28. This is the point I keep making. It's not about $. It's about restricting access

and pushing the agenda of the religious right.

[cali]

20. no. some insurers do cover abortions that are not deemed medically necessary

[robinlynne]

29. aboslutely not true.

[Mari333]

2. we like to appease Randall Terry. its our job to appease him.

[Vinca]

4. I wasn't aware abortion was covered by most policies anyway,

but I could be wrong because it's been a long, long time since I've seen an insurance policy or been young enough to get pregnant. Not justifying the exclusion, but it's something that we can work on after the masses realize this isn't "socialism" and Chairman Mao isn't running their health care.

[Junkdrawer]

10. More than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services...

...

The Stupak-Pitts amendment makes it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women. This would have the effect of denying women the right to use their own personal private funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage in the new health system — a radical departure from the status quo. Presently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.

...

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/news/press-releases/2009/pr11072009_househcrbillstupak.html

[cornermouse]

9. All of them.

That's the way this thing works with insurance companies. If one adopts it, they all adopt it.

[Junkdrawer]

12. Yep. Less payments = more profits....

It may take a few years, but that's the inevitable outcome.

[cornermouse]

13. That's also why it will never be "worked on"

after passage. They aren't going to volunteer to decrease their profits by covering something that they previously stopped covering. It just doesn't work that way.

[WVRICK13]

14. If I Were in The Insurance Industry

I would support full payments for abortions because after the birth you have another person to add to the family policy at a cheaper rate. Abortions would save them money in the long term.

[Junkdrawer]

16. That's a good point. NARAL should press that point. n/t

[cornermouse]

18. Won't work.

Insurance companies will figure they can have their cake and eat it too.

[Junkdrawer]

19. I guess it depends on how many insured women will...

a.) carry to term because they can't afford the abortion

b.) pay for the abortion out of pocket

If the overwhelming majority pay out of pocket, it's still a cost winner for the insurance company.

[cornermouse]

22. Most of them will be forced to carry to term.

That won't make them love or care for their kids. Around here, they tend to keep them rather than put them up for adoption. Family services has been broken by the religious right and almost never takes a child away from an abusive or self-destructive parent. This is going to get ugly.

[Nikia]

26. For many policies

The out of pocket cost of birth will be more expensive than an abortion, particuliarly if the woman chooses to have an epidural or has to have a caeserean.

[KharmaTrain]

17. A Suprise When My Son Was Born...

This was in the late 80s...we had a $2,000 deductable which was tough for someone who was barely earning $20gs a year to cover...but we did. We got a real surprise after he was born healthy...a bill for another $2,000 since they threw in a new deductable on my child...it took us two years to cover that nut and the interest that grew on "past due" bills.

My hopes are this regressive ammendment never makes it out of conference into a final bill...or that someone sues and has the Constitutionality of this tested in court as it's truly a violation of equal protection.

[SoCalDem]

21. Health insurance will become like auto insurance

Every company will offer a basic BS policy that will have deductibles, co-pays and cover nothing but the basics.. like an auto warranty

they will scare you in to "extra" coverage,

snowboarders/skateboarders/skydivers/scubadivers/mountaineers/spelunkers/racecar drivers, etc., will have to carry "daredevil" coverage in addition to the basic policy

women of childbearing years will be encouraged to buy "pregnancy" coverage, and or abortion coverage.

women over 40 will be encouraged to carry breast cancer coverage and or hysterectomy coverage

they won't DENY coverage but they will "Offer" extra coverage, just like homeowners offers extra coverage for collectibles or jewelry

Each layer of extra coverage just adds to the cost, until people start dropping these extras, and find themselves with meaningless policies that cover little more than an office call for a bladder infection or stitches from a run in with a table corner.

[golddigger]

24. +1000

[Blue State Blues]

23. The other likely result is that women will wait longer

because they will have to get the money together to pay out-of-pocket ... so instead of an early term, the procedure will be delayed, resulting in procedures that are ore difficult and more likely to have complications.

[Junkdrawer]

25. Yep. And more DIY abortion attempts and "I know a guy" attempts...

Not good.

[AwakeAtLast]

27. I also think the rates of "D & Cs" will mysteriously go up

because those are covered on insurance plans.