Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires abortion coverage to be optional in health care plans.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a qualified health plan under the Affordable Care Act from providing coverage for an “elective abortion” (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that nothing in this bill prevents an individual, organization, or employer participating in a qualified health care plan from opting to purchase additional coverage for an “elective abortion” (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an insurer, health maintenance organization, Health Care Corporation or employer from being required to provide or offer optional additional coverage for an “elective abortion” coverage (Sec. 5).

• Defines “elective abortion” as the intentional use of an instrument, drug, or other substance or device to terminate a woman’s pregnancy for a purpose other than increasing the chances of live birth, preserving the life or health of the child after birth, or removing a fetus that has died as a result of natural causes, accidental trauma, or criminal assault on the pregnant woman and does not include the following (Sec. 11):
• The use of a drug or device intended as a contraceptive;
• The necessary termination of a woman’s pregnancy to avert her death, based on a physician’s reasonable medical judgment; or
• The treatment of a woman’s miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. 

• Prohibits an individual or health agency from seeking or accepting reimbursement from a qualified health plan for a service directly related to the performance of an elective abortion, unless it’s sought from an optional rider (Sec. 10).

• Requires employers to inform each employee if they will include an elective rider covering abortion in their health coverage and that a covered dependent may use the coverage without notice to the employee (Sec. 4). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires abortion coverage to be optional in health care plans.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a qualified health plan under the Affordable Care Act from providing coverage for an “elective abortion” (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that nothing in this bill prevents an individual, organization, or employer participating in a qualified health care plan from opting to purchase additional coverage for an “elective abortion” (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an insurer, health maintenance organization, Health Care Corporation or employer from being required to provide or offer optional additional coverage for an “elective abortion” coverage (Sec. 5).

• Defines “elective abortion” as the intentional use of an instrument, drug, or other substance or device to terminate a woman’s pregnancy for a purpose other than increasing the chances of live birth, preserving the life or health of the child after birth, or removing a fetus that has died as a result of natural causes, accidental trauma, or criminal assault on the pregnant woman and does not include the following (Sec. 11):
• The use of a drug or device intended as a contraceptive;
• The necessary termination of a woman’s pregnancy to avert her death, based on a physician’s reasonable medical judgment; or
• The treatment of a woman’s miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. 

• Prohibits an individual or health agency from seeking or accepting reimbursement from a qualified health plan for a service directly related to the performance of an elective abortion, unless it’s sought from an optional rider (Sec. 10).

• Requires employers to inform each employee if they will include an elective rider covering abortion in their health coverage and that a covered dependent may use the coverage without notice to the employee (Sec. 4). 

Full Bill Text