The Trump administration finalized a rule that will require some health insurers to send their customers separate premium bills to cover abortion.
The rule, announced Friday, applies to plans that are sold on the Obamacare exchange and will go into effect June 27, 2020. Most of the people who buy health insurance on the exchange get tax subsidies from the government to help pay premiums, and anti-abortion groups have pushed for the separation because they don’t want government funding involved in paying for abortions.
Under the Hyde Amendment, which is a rider attached to government spending bills, federal funding is prohibited for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s pregnancy threatens her life. Anti-abortion activists wanted the same language included in Obamacare, but instead, President Barack Obama signed an executive order reaffirming that federal funding for abortion was banned.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated in their announcement that at least 18 states had Obamacare insurers providing coverage that included abortions. Since Obamacare’s passage, some states, including California, have required all insurers to cover abortions.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called the decision an “essential step” in making sure the government is blocked from paying for abortions.
“The separate billing requirement fulfills Congress’ intent and reflects President Trump’s strong commitment to preventing taxpayer funding of abortion coverage,” he said.
Planned Parenthood blasted the Trump administration for its decision and said 3 million people would be affected. Abortion rights groups say the process makes billing more cumbersome, noting that insurers would have to send separate bills that may be as little as $1 a month and worry that insurers will fail to cover abortions.
“Everyone deserves reproductive health care coverage that meets their needs, including abortion, without shame or stigma,” said Jacqueline Ayers, vice president of government relations and public policy for the organization. “Planned Parenthood vehemently opposes this rule and will continue our work to stop the administration’s attacks on our health and rights.”
But anti-abortion organizations praised the move.
“This new rule will ensure compliance so that ‘separate’ no longer means ‘together’ when it comes to funding abortion,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion organization influential with the Trump administration.
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