Senators gave second-round approval May 3 to a bill that would limit health insurance coverage for abortions in Nebraska.<\/p>\n
The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allows each state to opt out of offering abortion coverage through qualified health plans offered in the act under a health insurance exchange.<\/p>\n
LB22, introduced by Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy, would opt out of allowing health insurance plans operating under an exchange to cover abortions unless necessary to prevent the death of a woman.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the bill would prohibit private health insurance policies in the state from providing coverage for an abortion, except through an optional rider paid for solely by the insured. A health insurance plan issuer would be prohibited from providing any incentive or discount to an individual who chooses abortion coverage via a rider.<\/p>\n
McCoy said the bill is an extension of existing policy prohibiting abortion coverage for Nebraska state workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 30 years, we\u2019ve done with state employees what we\u2019re doing with LB22,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad offered an amendment on select file that would allow a health insurance plan to offer or provide coverage specifically for an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.<\/p>\n
Conrad said ectopic pregnancies, in which a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus, occur in one of every 50 pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies can jeopardize a woman\u2019s ability to successfully carry future pregnancies to term, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are significant and serious medical issues related to pregnancy that we must recognize,\u201d Conrad said.<\/p>\n
McCoy opposed the amendment, saying ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage already are covered under provisions of LB22 that exempt procedures related to \u201cspontaneous abortions\u201d or to prevent the death of a woman.<\/p>\n
The amendment failed on a 14-26 vote.<\/p>\n
Conrad offered a second amendment, which she said mirrored the health exception lawmakers passed last session in LB1103, a bill prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks. She said the amendment would result in a \u201cclear and uniform set of health exceptions\u201d in laws related to reproductive health.<\/p>\n
McCoy opposed the second Conrad amendment, saying it contained different language with different legal definitions than those outlined in LB1103.<\/p>\n
The amendment failed on a vote of 10-20.<\/p>\n
Malcolm Sen. Ken Haar brought an amendment, which he later withdrew, that would have provided an exception for an abortion performed when a physician finds a complication or fetal anomaly resulting in a condition incompatible with life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is unfortunate that some pregnancies end in this tragic way,\u201d Haar said, adding that decisions made in such situations should be left to families and their doctors.<\/p>\n
Senators voted 30-8 to advance LB22 to final reading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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