Michigan’s law barring insurance companies from including abortion coverage in basic policies takes effect this week.
7 insurance companies, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will offer an additional rider.
David Waymire is a spokesman for the Michigan Association of Health Plans. He says most Michiganders get their insurance from self-insured company health plans which are not covered by the law.
“So there’s really a small number of people that will ever be affected by this law at this point,” says Waymire.
Supporters of the legislation say people who object to abortion shouldn’t be forced to help pay for it in their insurance premiums.
Critics label the new law “Rape Insurance.” They say women would need to pay for the extra coverage to cover an abortion in case they become pregnant as the result of a sexual assault.
