Today I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine at work centering on whether the current health care proposals mandate a minimum contribution for abortion services regardless if one wishes to contribute towards this or not. My friend was convinced that, as has been relayed by the MSM, No, there is no $1 abortion surcharge. However, in reading p. 43 of Senator Reid’s Manager’s Amendment, which passed the Senate, we find this:
And here is an analysis of what this means by the legal staff at Americans United for Life:
Here’s further verification from an editorial in The Washington Times:
On Page 41 (lines 5-8) of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s manager amendment, the proposed rules mandate that everyone buying insurance through new exchanges or through the new government-run plan must pay a monthly abortion premium to be used for elective abortion services. This fee applies “without regard to the enrollee’s age, sex or family status.” That means that people who have no possibility of wanting an abortion themselves will pay for others to have them. On Page 43 (lines 1-7), insurance companies will be required to assess the cost of elective abortion coverage, and on Page 43 (lines 20-22) they are mandated to charge a minimum of at least $1 per enrollee per month to cover abortion.
Rep. Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who led a House revolt against abortion funding, calls the Senate language “a dramatic shift in federal policy.” The type of amendment approved by Mr. Nelson was voted down in the House.
And here’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius explaining the proposed accounting gimmick that will employed so that we have “separate funds” for health care and abortion services.
