COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina legislators have agreed to require that people purchase additional coverage for abortions under the new federal insurance law.
The House Judiciary subcommittee Thursday approved that bill. The panel also added the restriction to a second bill that bars employers from firing or refusing to hire people who object to a variety of health and experimental procedures that include working with embryonic tissue.
Opponents said the separate policies would mean people don't buy that coverage because they don't anticipate unplanned pregnancies.
"Planned Parenthood believes it is wrong to deny a woman insurance coverage for a legal medical procedure just because some people are opposed to it," says Jessica Bearden Laurenz of Planned Parenthood. "Women do not plan to have unplanned pregnancies, or to have severe complications late in their pregnancies. Having insurance coverage of abortion is important to make sure that every woman can access the care she may need."
Pro-life advocates say this bill is fair.
"It makes abortion coverage a private issue for any individual who wants it. It doesn't subject other people in an insurance policy paying premiums that could be used to pay abortions," says Holly Gatling Executive Director of the South Carolina Citizens for Life.
The same panel also approved a bill that ensures a fetus that survives an abortion attempt is not treated as medical waste.
What do you think about the bill that would require the purchase of additional insurance to cover abortions? Should politicians have a say over what medical procedures insurance covers? Or do you think taxpayer dollars shouldn’t help fund abortion? Vote in the poll and leave a comment below.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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