With the seemingly never-ending Republican threat over American health care, some states are stepping up to protect their residents. One latest case of that comes from Oregon through a new measure that’ll protect abortion access through health care coverage.
The bill, named “the Reproductive Health Equity Act,” was proposed directly in response to the GOP Obamacare repeal crusade. State Rep. Julie Fahey (D) told the Hill, “If the ACA goes away, people in Oregon will still be able to access those essential health benefits.” The Hill reports:
Fahey’s bill would also cover abortion services for undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for coverage under the state’s healthcare plan. An estimated 22,000 undocumented immigrants would be covered by that provision.
Insurers would be barred from transferring those costs to those who are covered, either through deductibles or co-pays.
Insurers who have a religious objection to covering abortions will be excluded, but the bill requires the state health department to cover those with policies through insurance companies that qualify for that exemption.