The state Senate passed a bill Thursday that prohibits coverage of abortions by health insurance plans offered through provisions in federal healthcare law.
Health benefit exchanges, created through The Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, are federally certified and regulated marketplaces that assist citizens and businesses in accessing health insurance plans that qualify for government subsidies.
This act enables states to prevent state funding for abortions by qualified health plans offered through the exchanges.
Thursday's bill, if passed in the assembly, will completely prevent state funding for abortions in Wisconsin.
Per the bill, state funds cannot be used to pay for an abortion unless a woman's survival is threatened by her pregnancy or if her pregnancy results from a legally reported instance of sexual assault or incest.
Sen. Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee who supports the passing of the bill, said, ""Taxpayers are going to be forced to subsidize abortion"" if states had been allowed to fund abortions through federal exchanges.
Wisconsin Right to Life, the largest pro-life organization in the state, also supports the bill. Executive Director Barbara Lyons said the bill ""continues the decade-long tradition of public policy where the taxpayer does not have to pay for abortion.""
Democrats insist the bill limits the type of insurance that citizens are allowed to buy.
Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, said the bill mirrors a state mandate on private insurance healthcare plans. The bill is an ""expansion of state government prohibiting what private plans can do selling to private citizens,"" said Vinehout.
""How far does government grow? Where do we cross the line?"" said Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison.
Vinehout proposed to refer the bill back to the Committee on Senate Organization, but the motion failed.
