Community Corner
Does Michigan's Law Restricting Insurance Coverage for Abortions Go Too Far?
Health insurance in Michigan no longer covers abortions – women have to purchase a separate "rider."
A Michigan law requiring abortions to be covered by an add-on insurance policy went into affect this week, UPI reported.
The law's proponents say that it allows those opposed to abortion to choose policies that do not cover it, critics contend the law requires women to predict a rape will happen to them and to buy the add-on to cover the possibility of an abortion.
Mlive.com noted that aside from only allowing women to purchase insurance that covers abortions as a separate "rider" insurers were planning to only offer the plan for groups and not individuals.
The law also does not allow private insurance companies to offer policies that include some reproductive procedures, such as D and C's which are done after miscarriages, WDIV TV reported.
"Women will still have the right to choose because they can choose to purchase a rider, which will cover elective abortions," WDIV quoted state Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R- Clayton).
Does Michigan's law restricting insurance coverage for abortions go too far?
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