GOP Drops Abortion Coverage from Health Insurance Plan

Published: Thu 19 Nov 2009

Wendy Blair - Staff Writer

The GOP is scrambling to burnish its reputation after an embarrassing revelation that its health care plan included coverage for elective abortions. The timing of the revelation was particularly awkward for the GOP, as Congressional Republicans had just crusaded to include the Stupak Amendment, a provision that denies federal funding for elective abortions, in the health care reform bill.

On Thursday evening, the Republican National Committee (RNC) conceded that its health insurance plan has provided some coverage for elective abortion since 1991. In the RNC's defense, the decision not to opt out of the abortion coverage option predated current Chairman Michael Steele's administration. Republicans are calling the snafu a glaring oversight on the part of RNC administrators.

Chairman Michael Steele also told the RNC's director of administration on Thursday to opt out of any elective abortion coverage in the party's medical insurance plan.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled," Steele relayed in a statement.

The scandal was first uncovered by reporters from Politico who contacted Cigna sales agents regarding the RNC's health insurance policy. They discovered that the RNC's policy did cover elective abortion and that the party failed to opt out of the coverage when offered the chance.

The inclusion of elective abortion coverage in the GOP's health insurance plan was particularly inconsistent with the party's platform, which regards abortion as "a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life." Many cite Republicans' opposition to federally-funded abortions as one of the many reasons why the health care reform bill may die in the Senate.

The debate over health care has brought the abortion issue to the forefront once again. The health care reform bill that passed in the House last week specified that government-sponsored public insurance plans cannot offer elective abortion coverage. The provision also barred private insurers that receive government subsidies from providing the coverage as well.

Most Republicans and many Democrats supported the provision, saying it echoes the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal money from being used for abortions except in the event of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is in danger. However, critics claim the amendment goes too far and will result in women either getting denied of coverage or having to pay extra for it.