40 House Dems Won't Support Bill with Stupak Abortion Language

The Hill reports Reps. Diana DeGette and Louise Slaughter wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicating that a group of at least 40 abortion rights supporters will not support a final conference report if it strictly prohibits federal funding for abortion services: “We will not vote for a conference report that contains language that restricts women’s right to choose any further than current law."

Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News explains how the abortion restrictions would work. "The House-passed health bill bars insurers from selling policies that cover abortion to anyone who gets a federal subsidy. But it does allow insurers to offer optional abortion coverage that consumers could purchase with their own money. Based on some states' experiences, it's unlikely insurers would sell such coverage," writes Julie Appleby. Can those wanting abortion coverage purchase it on their own? "Only if insurers decide to offer two types of policies in the exchange: ones made available to subsidy-eligible people that don’t cover abortion, and another set, sold only to those who don’t get federal subsidies, that would cover it. Insurers may have little incentive to offer both, as the vast majority of the exchange marketplace is expected to be subsidy-eligible people." You can get more helpful information here.