Today, the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association of abortion providers, joined others in submitting comments opposing the Trump Administration’s latest anti-abortion effort: the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Exchange Program Integrity” proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“Once again, anti-abortion politicians are attempting to single out abortion care from other forms of health care in an attempt to make it less accessible,” said The Very Reverend Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, Interim President and CEO of NAF.
If implemented as written, proposed rule would require private insurers in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces to bill consumers twice, once for the coverage of abortion services only, and again for all other covered benefits in each consumer’s plan. This would require two separate payments each month from consumers. This rule would increase insurance companies’ costs by requiring a duplication of their billing and payment process, creating a disincentive for insurance companies looking to provide their customers with comprehensive reproductive health care coverage– including abortion care.
“We hear from thousands of women each week on our toll-free hotline who can’t afford the abortion care they need—even after pawning their belongings, not paying their rent, and more,” said Ragsdale. “People want their health insurance to be easier to use and to cover more care, not less. Anti-abortion politicians must stop playing games with people’s health care.”
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers. Our members include individuals, private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for approximately half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care, which promotes health and justice for women.