In 2014 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report revealing that over a thousand health care plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cover what the law calls “non-excepted” abortions, that is, elective abortions. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, chairman of the U.S. bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, urged: “Bring the Affordable Care Act into compliance with the Hyde Amendment and every other federal law on abortion funding, by excluding elective abortions from health plans subsidized with federal funds.” He added that “Congress should not delay in enacting a law to require full disclosure of abortion coverage and abortion premiums to Americans purchasing health plans.” For full statement, see: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/cardinal-omalley-government-report-confirms-bishops-concern-on-abortion-coverage.cfm.
In an article in America (April 7, 2014), “A Careful Reading,” Richard Doerflinger sets forth with detail and clarity the problems related to abortion that exists in the ACA. This article can be accessed online at:americamagazine.org/issue/careful-reading.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act needs to be passed by Congress. The measure (H.R. 7) was re-introduced in the House. On January 22, 2015, the House approved H.R. 7, 242-yes, 179-no.
See elsewhere in this Legislative Report, “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act.”
