Washington may be first to mandate abortion coverage


A bill requiring all health insurance plans to cover abortions has passed the House, awaits Senate.

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A bill requiring all health insurance plans to cover abortions has passed the House, awaits Senate.

Fifteen states have passed laws restricting insurers from covering abortions and 12 others are considering similar measures. By contrast, the Washington bill would make the state the first to require all health insurance plans under its jurisdiction — except those claiming a conscience-based exemption — to include abortion coverage.

The measure, HB 2330, would do so by requiring insurers who cover maternity care, which Washington insurers are mandated to provide, to also pay for abortions. New York is the only other state considering similar rules, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks women’s health-related legislation.

Read more at the Seattlepi.