Title: Prohibits State Health Insurance Plan from Covering Abortions
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the state health insurance from covering abortions.
Highlights:
Prohibits the Group Insurance Board from providing or contracting to provide a group health insurance plan or health benefit that covers abortions, except for abortions due to the following circumstances (Sec. 5):
An abortion directly and medically necessary to save the patient’s life;
An abortion directly and medically necessary to prevent “grave, long-lasting” physical health damage to the patient due to a prior medical condition; or
An abortion in a case of sexual assault or incest that was previously reported.
Exempts insurers from being required to provide coverage for a contraceptive drug, device, or medical services to a religious employer and to a religious organization or religious institution of higher education if they meet the following criteria (Sec. 8):
The organization or institution opposes providing coverage for some or all contraceptive services on account of religious objections;
The organization or institution is organized and operates as a nonprofit entity;
The organization or institution holds itself as a religious organization or entity; and
The organization or institution certifies in writing that it meets these criteria and maintains the certification in its records for the plan year of which it seeks exemption.
Requires an insurer to provide coverage for a contraceptive drug, device, or medical services to an exempted religious employer, organization, or institution in the following circumstances (Sec. 8):
The contraceptive coverage is requested by the religious employer, organization, or institution; and
The contraceptive coverage is for a medically necessary purpose other than preventing or terminating a pregnancy.