[Peace-discuss] Feminists for Life on ACA

Thu Jun 28 22:37:17 UTC 2012

Feminists for Life of America

June 28, 2012
Feminists for Life on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Feminists for Life has never pretended to have expertise in the  
delivery of health care services. We do not.  But we have heard the  
voices of women who mourn from their abortion. We listen to the  
victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. We hear the needs of  
women who are pregnant and need help. And we listen to the pleas of  
parents and birthparents.

Like most Americans, we are pleased with some key elements of the  
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as they relate to our  
mission, which is to systematically address the unmet needs of women  
that would otherwise drive them to abortion-especially practical  
resources and support.  So we are pleased that parents may keep their  
children on their health care until age 26, especially since so many  
are in college.  And we are pleased that preexisting conditions will  
not exclude victims of domestic violence from obtaining coverage.

Feminists for Life does not support abortion because it is both anti- 
woman and anti-child. Therefore we do not support abortion coverage in  
health care.

Two years ago President Obama signed an executive order banning  
federal funding for abortions in health care reform and extended the  
restrictions to the newly created health care insurance exchanges.

Under the current law, federal funds cannot go toward abortion except  
in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the pregnant woman is at  
risk.  However, in March 2012, the US Department of Health and Human  
Services issued a final rule regarding establishment of the state  
health care exchanges required under the Patient Protection and  
Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148):

A health insurance exchange is a set of state-regulated and  
standardized health care plans in the United States, from which  
individuals may purchase health insurance eligible for federal  
subsidies. Under Federal law, all exchanges must be fully certified  
and operational by January 1, 2014.

As authorized by P.L. 111-148, the final rule provides for taxpayer  
funding of insurance coverage that includes elective abortion. This  
departure from the longstanding policy is accomplished through an  
accounting arrangement described in the Affordable Care Act and  
reiterated in the final rule.

To comply with the accounting requirement, plans will collect a $1  
abortion surcharge from each premium payer. The enrollee will make two  
payments, $1 per month for abortion and another payment for the rest  
of the services covered. As described in the rule, the surcharge can  
only be disclosed to the enrollee at the time of enrollment.  
Furthermore, insurance plans may only advertise the total cost of the  
premiums without disclosing that enrollees will be charged a $1 per  
month fee to pay directly to subsidize abortions.

If abortion were such a great thing, why keep this coverage such a  
secret?
The final rule mentioned, but did not address concerns about abortion  
coverage in "multi-state" plans administered by the Federal  
Government's Office of Personal Management (OPM). There is nothing in  
the Affordable Care Act to prevent some OPM (government administered)  
plans from covering elective abortion, and questions remain about  
whether OPM multi-state plans will include elective abortion. If such  
plans do include abortion, there are concerns that the abortion  
coverage will even be offered in states that have prohibited abortion  
coverage in their state exchanges. The final rule indicates "Specific  
standards for multi-state plans will be described in future rulemaking  
published by OPM..."
To coverage for abortifacients, FFL is concerned that coverage could  
expand to RU-486, known to have caused the death of women as well as  
unborn children.
Multi-state plans run by the Office of Personnel Management that are  
subsidized partially by taxpayers--and against the will of many--will  
still be allowed to cover abortion.
Funding for abortion training is not excluded from the Teaching Health  
Graduate Medical Education program.  We oppose forcing of medical  
students to be trained in abortion or forcing them to watch or  
participate in the procedure. (Although they must learn about it in  
order to save women who are injured from the medical and surgical  
abortions.)
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has no conscience  
protection for individuals or employers like Feminists for Life.
Good upon bad is never good enough. Therefore, we urge our elected  
leaders to remember the woman--as well as the child-and resolve the  
problems while still implementing pro-woman, pro-child solutions.

Because women deserve better,

Serrin M. Foster
President

"Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women.  
Women deserve better than abortion."
REFUSE TO CHOOSE®
WOMEN DESERVE BETTER®

Say NO to the Status QuoTM

............................................

Feminists for Life is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian, 501(c)3 organization.
All donations and membership contributions are tax deductible to the  
extent allowed by law.

Refuse to Choose and Women Deserve Better are registered trademarks
of Feminists for Life of America.
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