Get raped and pregnant in Michigan? Hope you paid your rape insurance premiums!

[archibaldcrane]

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index....pproves_1.html

LANSING, MI -- Michigan's Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday approved controversial legislation that will prohibit insurers from paying for abortions unless a woman has already purchased coverage through a separate rider.
The "citizen-initiated" law, backed by Right to Life of Michigan, will take effect in March without crossing the governor's desk or appearing on the statewide ballot next year.
House and Senate leadership took up the measure shortly after 4 p.m., prompting a series of impassioned speeches from opponents, who have called the bill a "rape insurance" proposal because it does not include any exceptions for abortion coverage beyond imminent death of the mother.
Senate Minority Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, cited the need to put a face on the issue as she told her colleagues that she was raped 20 years ago, tearing up as she shared her personal story and thanking God that she was not impregnated as a result.
"The Republican male majority continues to ignorantly and unnecessarily weigh in on important women's health issues that they know nothing about," said Whitmer, one of four women who serve in Michigan's upper chamber. "As a legislator, a lawyer and a mother of two girls, I think the fact that rape insurance is even being discussed by this body is repulsive."
Other opponents -- male and female -- shared personal stories about miscarriages in their families, questioning how the proposal would impact problematic pregnancies that may require termination or expensive hospital stays.
Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township, spoke in support of the measure on the House floor, arguing that residents who are morally opposed to abortion should not have to pay premiums for policies that include the coverage.
"No matter how we frame the issue before us, abortion is an individual choice," said Price, who is one of 24 women serving in the state House. "As such, it is up to each individual to make the decision how they will pay for such procedures."
The Senate approved the bill shortly before 5 p.m. in a 27-11 vote, with one Democrat crossing the aisle to vote with Republicans. The House followed suit 20 minutes later, approving the measure in a 62-47 vote with support from two Democrats and the lone independent. Neither chamber had the 2/3 majority necessary for immediate effect.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a similar measure last year, in part, because he thought it would "interfere" with the private marketplace by prohibiting insurers from offering coverage options of their choice. He also cited the lack of exceptions for cases involving rape or incest.
Right to Life of Michigan returned the bill to the Legislature last week by way of the state's infrequently-used citizens initiative process, giving lawmakers 40 days to vote on the proposal or the choice to let it advance to the ballot in 2014. The process does not allow for a veto, meaning Snyder cannot reject the bill a second time.
The anti-abortion group promoted its proposal as a means to "opt out" and ensure that taxpayer-subsidized policies offered under the Affordable Care Act will not include abortion coverage. Twenty-three states reportedly restrict abortion coverage in Obamacare exchanges, but only 8 have restrictions that also apply to all private insurance plans.
None of the individual policies currently available on Michigan's federally-run exchange include elective abortion coverage, according to the state Department of Insurance and Financial Service, and just three plans offered to small employers do. Some of the policies make exceptions for "medically necessary" abortions.
Right to Life President Barbara Listing, in a released statement, thanked upwards of 300,000 residents who signed petitions circulated by the nonprofit and applauded lawmakers who "stood firm in their resolve and voted to ensure no person is forced to fund the deliberate taking of an innocent human life in the name of health care."
While the proposal has prompted heated debate in Lansing, the full impact of the new law remains unclear. State statistics show that just 3.3 percent of abortions performed here in 2012 were covered by insurance. Additionally, self-funded health plans offered by some large employers and government agencies are unlikely to be affected.
The law will allow women to purchase abortion coverage through a separate rider, but it does not require insurers to offer the policy add-ons, and companies that operate here have been reluctant to discuss the controversial proposal. It's also unclear whether any insurers actually offer abortion riders in states with similar laws.
State Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, said the idea of an abortion rider is a "false promise" and suggested plans are in the works for another petition drive seeking to overturn the new law.
"Do not under estimate the power of a lot of angry women and the men who support us," said Hovey-Wright. "A 'yes' vote puts you on the wrong side of history. It's actually a force out, not an opt out."

So basically, ALL insurance plans in Michigan will not be allowed to cover abortion in any circumstance as far as I can tell (although I thought all Obamacare plans were required to cover abortion in cases of rape, incest, or risk of mother's life so I'm not sure what the deal is there) unless a special insurance rider is also purchased that includes insurance coverage. Apparently said rider cannot be purchased if the insured is already pregnant (not sure how that works either since it's a clear pre-existing condition situation) nor is it clear if any insurers will actually offer such insurance riders.
How could a law like this get passed in a state with a Democrat governor? Well, Michigan has a really terrible "citizen initiative" law, where only 4% of state residents signed a petition to create this law, and then all that had to happen was a simple majority of both houses passed it. Laws created in this manner are not subject to governor veto. Basically it's the dumbest system ever.

[archibaldcrane]

Hmmm.

If a health care plan in an exchange chooses to cover abortion services currently permitted under the Hyde Amendment (life endangerment, rape, and incest), the plan does not have to follow any specific segregation requirements. Federal subsidies are allowed to go towards those abortion services.


If a health care plan chooses to cover abortion services beyond those currently permitted under the Hyde Amendment, the issuer of the plan is prohibited from using federal subsidies to pay for those abortion services and must follow ACA’s segregation requirements.

Apparently health insurance doesn't have to include abortion coverage unless the life of the mother is in danger.

[Cream Soda]

I've never gotten one, but I didn't imagine abortions to be particularly expensive. Or am I wrong?

[archibaldcrane]

The normal cost of a first-trimester abortion runs between $350 and $550, depending on subsidies, the method used, and other variables such as cost of living.

A 2001 study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute found that the average overall cost of an abortion in the United States was $468, a figure that has probably risen since then due to inflation, but that the average amount paid for an abortion (due to subsidies) is $372.

.

[Cream Soda]

oh fuck that lol

[Serra]

Even if it was required under the ACA, it could be a way to setup a challenge to the law on the grounds of states vs national government rights.

[archibaldcrane]

It's funny, because I had absolutely no idea whether you would think $500~ was cheap or expensive lol.

I see it as cheap, but then again I cut my finger and got a couple stitches and all told it's going to cost me, AFTER insurance, around $2500.

[Tyrath]

I honestly see $500~ for an abortion as pretty cheap too.

[Cream Soda]

500 is jumping on craigslist and finding a shiny new bike lol; but mainly asked because if it was like super cheap, didn't think it would matter. But then I think I was thinking about car insurance with a deductible or w/e it's called. I've never had car insurance nor regular insurance, lol so I'm pretty ignorant in both subjects

[myreality]

What the fuck is going on here.....I cannot comprehend the amount of stupidity this law entails. So the pro lifers cannot outright ban abortions so they are chipping away until it is. Luckily the operation is not that expensive.

[Correction]

I honestly see $500~ for an abortion as pretty cheap too.

What is this post rly

[Ksandra]

I think you guys aren't really looking at the money realistically.

A lot of women get abortions because they feel they can't afford a baby financially. And while obviously a baby is way more expensive than $500, logic would suggest they probably don't have that kind of money to put down in the first place.

[Raldo]

Yeah, just squeezing that baby out, assuming you're doing it at the hospital, would easily surpass that number. I'd consider that to be pretty cheap for such a service as well.

[Correction]

I think you guys aren't really looking at the money realistically.

A lot of women get abortions because they feel they can't afford a baby financially. And while obviously a baby is way more expensive than $500, logic would suggest they probably don't have that kind of money to put down in the first place.

No you don't understand, it's okay to infringe on women's reproductive freedom, because men think it's cheap.

[Ksandra]

Yeah, just squeezing that baby out, assuming you're doing it at the hospital, would easily surpass that number.

wut.

My hospital bill was $500.

ITT: men

[edit] That's when I had BCBS, looking at my Kaiser plan, it would be $250.

[Callisto]

Considering what other procedures cost, yeah that's relatively cheap; though remember that abortions are typically something that you decide in advance of the procedure that you're going to do it; whereas when most uninsured/under-insured people talk about out-of-pocket medical costs they are talking about emergency room procedures, which are always going to be more expensive. Going to the emergency room for practically anything will cost you more than $500.

[archibaldcrane]

wut.

My hospital bill was $500.

ITT: men

With insurance sure. We're talking about abortions, which are almost entirely paid for outside of insurance. Your hospital bill would've been a fuck of a lot more than $500 without insurance.

[archibaldcrane]

No you don't understand, it's okay to infringe on women's reproductive freedom, because men think it's cheap.

No one is making this argument.

[Ksandra]

With insurance sure. We're talking about abortions, which are almost entirely paid for outside of insurance. Your hospital bill would've been a fuck of a lot more than $500 without insurance.

1. Raldo said delivery easily costs more, which is what I was responding to.

2. Considering that in less than a month all women can get that insurance (since it will no longer be a pre-existing condition) I find this largely irrelevant.

3. Again, women who abort for financial reasons are probably not going to be able to afford $500 as is.

[Ratatapa]

1. Raldo said delivery easily costs more, which is what I was responding to.

2. Considering that in less than a month all women can get that insurance (since it will no longer be a pre-existing condition) I find this largely irrelevant.

3. Again, women who abort for financial reasons are probably not going to be able to afford $500 as is.

CREDIT CARDS