Elizabeth Hovde of the Washington Policy Center explains that dictating what insurers cover and what their copays and deductibles look like impacts all those who buy insurance and pay premiums in Washington state
Elizabeth Hovde
Washington Policy Center
Senate Bill 5242, prohibiting cost-sharing for abortions, and Senate Joint Resolution 8202, amending the state Constitution to reassure abortion is a right “beyond a shadow of a doubt,” as committee chair Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, put it, were just approved by the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. The bills now move forward for fuller consideration by lawmakers.
The amendment to the Washington state Constitution was voted on before SB 5242, and it didn’t get approved without some last words of caution, disappointment and explanation for coming “no” votes. The four Republican members on the 10-person committee all had something to say. Watch the hearing on TVW.
Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said we know more today about the humanity of the unborn, and this amendment would prohibit future legislation protecting them from abortion because of their gender or a down-syndrome diagnosis. “We’re better than this constitutional amendment as a society,” he concluded.
Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, echoed the “better than” sentiment, but in relation to how lawmakers with different opinions were being treated because of their beliefs about abortion and human life. He said that while he believes abortion is a personal, moral decision and would never overturn voters’ already existing initiative-will on this issue, he resents being compared to “a bank robber” because of his beliefs.
Washington Policy Center was interested in the committee’s hearing today for a range of scope-of-practice bills that were being heard and to see the outcome of the legislation that would prohibit cost-sharing for abortions.
The rising cost of health care is a concern to most Washingtonians, and government regulations add to those costs. Dictating what insurers cover and what their copays and deductibles look like impacts all those who buy insurance and pay premiums in Washington state.
Supporters of no cost-sharing for abortions say that abortion shouldn’t be impacted by one’s ability to pay. How far does that argument go? To how many health services? And should the government be deciding?
Right now, Washington state requires state-regulated plans to cover abortion, but it allows them to apply the plan’s regular deductible, coinsurance and/or copay. SB 5242 (and a companion bill, House Bill 1115) would require state-regulated health plans in Washington state to cover abortion with no cost-sharing charges to an enrollee.
Read more about how the states differ in their approaches to insurance requirements for abortion services here.
Elizabeth Hovde is a policy analyst and the director of the Centers for Health Care and Worker Rights at the Washington Policy Center. She is a Clark County resident.
Also read:
- Opinion: Despite record revenues and being the only state in the nation not giving broad tax relief, Washington House Democrats are considering increasing taxes
Mark Harmsworth of the Washington Policy Center believes House Bill 1628 will not solve housing affordability in either the ownership, rental or commercial real estate markets. - Opinion: The state legislature may soon significantly reduce classroom instruction time for studentsLiv Finne of the Washington Policy Center states the legislation may be great for the teacher’s union, but it will deprive many of Washington’s school children of the quality public education they’ve been promised.
- POLL: Are you in favor of current legislation that would allow homeless youth shelters to avoid notifying parents of runaway children?Are you in favor of current legislation that would allow homeless youth shelters to avoid notifying parents of runaway children?
- Opinion: The truly worrisome result of the Supreme Court’s decisionThe Washington Supreme Court decision in Quinn v. State of Washington declaring that a capital gains tax does not violate the Washington Constitution is another affront to our rights.
- Opinion: SJM 8006 wants to take Washingtonians down the wrong health care pathElizabeth Hovde of the Washington Policy Center believes there are better ways to contain costs in health care.
With modern technology we can see without a shadow of a doubt that aborting a fetus is killing a developing human. Pagans practiced human sacrifice and we all find that horrific. Christians find killing a developing human horrific. Why is the “choice” to destroy or “not destroy a political football? Because those we elect have the power to decide if we are a nation that destroys or cherishes life. Sure there a hard luck cases, difficult decisions. But we must learn to be strong. Bring forth life. There are hundreds of thousands of people who suffering due to a lack of being able to do so and will gladly raise that child. LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.