House Decimates Women's Health Coverage with Abortion Vote, Doctors Say

11/07/2009

Stupak/Pitts Amendment Will Eliminate Insurance Coverage for Legal Medical Care

New York, NY—Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health released the following statement today from board chair Suzanne T. Poppema, MD, in response to the passage of the Stupak/Pitts amendment to health care reform:

"Rather than expanding Americans' access to health care, the House today compromised women's health with severe limits on abortion. The Stupak/Pitts amendment will bar any insurance plan paid for or subsidized by the United States government from covering abortion services. Supporters claim that women can purchase a separate rider to cover abortion, but this is a sham. No woman anticipates an unintended or unhealthy pregnancy. Women who are already struggling to afford health insurance won't spend additional money for an abortion rider. If a woman's health is unexpectedly threatened by her pregnancy, it will be too late for her to purchase a rider and she will be forced to pay out-of-pocket for the procedure.

"Women may not anticipate their need for abortion, but it remains vital medical care for one in three and a basic human right for everyone. No other medical procedure is being singled out in this way by health reform. Women's need for abortion will never disappear, regardless of the legal or financial barriers placed in their way.

"Make no mistake: this amendment will harm women's health. Low-income women—who are already subject to similar limits—are more likely to delay abortion while they raise the necessary funds, making the procedure more risky and expensive. Congress should stick to insurance reform, and leave medical decision-making to women and their physicians."

Doctors affiliated with Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health have shared numerous stories of women who could be affected by this amendment. Facts about abortion in the United States are available on our website.

Physicians are available for comment. Contact Amanda Davis at [email protected], 646 649-9927.