Group Health omits abortion from new health care plans
SEATT;E -- Group Health Cooperative will not include abortion coverage in its newly offered individual health-insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, the Seattle Times reported.
Group Health blamed the decision on murky regulations regarding the use of federal money for abortions and says women who buy an insurance plan with the company will still be able to access the service without paying more, the paper reported.
The organization insists it has been an avid supporter of women's reproductive options, but that's not satisfying abortion rights and women's rights groups, who are angry over Group Health's decision, the Times said.
The new health care law requires insurers that cover abortions to provide separate premiums and expenditures. That's because federal law prohibits abortions from being funded by the federal premium subsidies for plans offered through the new state insurance exchanges. Group Health said the confusing regulations led to its decision not to cover abortions in plans offered through the exchange in 2014, but coverage will be added to plans sold in 2015.
Read more from the Times here.