Tell the White House: No abortion coverage restrictions for women with pre-existing conditions

The Obama Administration has applied a Stupak-like ban on abortion coverage for women with serious health problems who have no other choice but to use high-risk insurance pools. This goes beyond the existing provisions restricting abortion coverage.

Last week, the Administration declared a ban on abortion coverage for women in high-risk pools except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the woman’s life.

We defeated Stupak in Congress and we will not accept any further restrictions to abortion access!

-It is unacceptable to treat women with pre-existing conditions differently than those who purchase insurance from state health care exchanges;

-Abortion is a basic health care service that one out of three women will utilize in their lifetime;

-This new ban takes away a woman's ability to access abortion even with her own funds.

Join us in sending a message to President Obama that we will not accept further restrictions to our right to choose.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Dear Mr. President,

The ban on abortion coverage for women with pre-existing conditions will deny access to services to those who need it the most. Women with serious health problems have no other choice but to use high-risk insurance pools.  High-risk pools are a temporary safety net for people who are denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions.  If a woman in a high-risk pool chooses abortion, she should not be exposed to the increased health risk of delaying it because her insurance will not cover it – on top of the other health issues she already is dealing with. This decision will mean that thousands of women with serious medical conditions will lack coverage for abortions that they may need because of risks to their health.

Unlike in the health care exchanges – where women would be able to access abortion coverage if their states allowed it and if they paid for it separately – this new ban takes away a woman’s ability to access abortion even with her own funds. It is unacceptable to treat women with pre-existing conditions differently than those who purchase insurance from state health care exchanges.

Therefore, I urge you to lift the ban on abortion coverage for women with pre-existing conditions and help ensure that health care reform implementation meets the needs of all women.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

Phone:(202) 456-1111

Fax:(202) 456-2461