Senate bill would allow abortion coverage

The Senate health care bill would allow abortion coverage in federally subsidized insurance plans.

Under the proposal put forward by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, plans sold on the state-based health insurance exchanges would be able to cover abortion even if they received federal money.

However, the plans would be barred from using the federal money to pay for that coverage under Section 1303 of the bill. Instead, it would come from monthly premiums paid by consumers.

In addition, Reid's plan requires that each state exchange offer at least one plan that includes abortion coverage and one plan that does not.

The provision is meant as a compromise between abortion rights supporters who want to ensure it is covered and opponents who do not want federal money to pay for abortion.

However, House Republican Leader John Boehner has already criticized the measure, noting that the premiums will be paid into U.S. Treasury accounts.

-- Ryan Teague Beckwith, Congress.org

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