Abortion & ObamaCare
In recent public addresses, President Obama railed about the supposed “outrageous myths” surrounding his plan for Health Insurance Reconstruction, a plan that is often shilled as Healthcare Reform.
One of the things he attempted to refute was that voluntary, non-medically required abortions would be covered under ObamaCare.
From Reuters (Washington, DC):
Some are also saying that coverage for abortions would be mandated under reform. Also false.
Much like President Obama’s statements about illegal immigrants & ObamaCare, in a Rovian sense what President Obama asserted is true, or at least not completely false. There are no provisions in any of the legislation currently in play – HR 3200 being the only one of importance for now – that mandate that coverage for abortions.
This is completely true, but it is another example of President Obama’s disingenuous nuance. Even with the very narrowly passed Capps Amendment there is nothing preventing ObamaCare from effectively subsidizing voluntary, non-medically required abortions.
Obama has said in the past that “reproductive services” would be covered by his Public Option, therefor it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover such abortions unless Congress expressly prohibits that action. Low- to moderate-income persons who would choose the Public Option would qualify for federal subsidies – Affordability Credits – to purchase it. Private plans offered on the proposed Healthcare Exchange that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of such Affordability Credits.
We’re going to set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance. It will be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services, as well as mental health services and disease management services, because part of our interest is to make sure that we’re putting more money into preventive care.
— Senator Obama
July 17, 2007, Address to Planned Parenthood
The then-Senator Obama’s campaign spokespeople later confirmed and clarified that Obama included abortions in those “reproductive services.”
Despite any sophistry and legalism, despite any shifting funding from one column to another on the books so as to avoid violating the Hyde Amendment or the proposed Capps Amendment, which essentially applies the Hyde Amendment to HR 3200, if public subsidies are provided for the purchase of health insurance and the policies purchased cover voluntary abortions then ObamaCare will, in effect, cover said abortions and use American tax-payers’ dollars to do so.
So is the claim that ObamaCare will cover abortions an “outrageous myth?” No, but it is an oversimplification of the matter. This is very much the same as President Obama’s “outrageous myth” that ObamaCare won’t cover abortions.
Tags: Abortion | Healthcare | Infanticide | Lies | Obama | Politics | Truth
September 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Hey jonolan, can you enlighten all of us as to what someone is when they hide their identity? You know like under a hooded sheet or some other mask?
What is cowardice? What is a fellow american?
What about murdering the truth?
wilderness voice
September 7th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I don’t remember your stance on abortion, but personally I am all for it. I can’t say that I would encourage those close to me to have abortions, but I see a societal need for this practice to be accepted.
That said, assuming a healthcare plan is passed, it should cover some degree of abortion. 16 year old girls that can’t keep their knees closed obviously shouldn’t be covered, but rape victims or complications should be considered. I am no expert, and my opinion means little in this case, but I felt like stating it regardless.
With regards to the discrepencies in Obama’s speeches, lets not forget that all politicians are sleezy. One piece of text you quoted was from 2007, before Obama was elected and likely before he was officially representing the Democratic party. What was said then shouldn’t be considered as truth, at least for the rational, because we all know well that this is just to gather votes … this is more for the sheep that know no better. Campaign promises are only … well … promises. Of course, in an ideal word politicians should be held accountable for their words, but we all know that we live in a world far from ideal.
September 8th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I suppose that if you’re going to assist people to have kids they naturally couldn’t have, then it’s only fair to redress the balance by helping them get rid of the ones they don’t want. Personally, I don’t think either option should be available at public expense except in extreme circumstances or as a medical necessity – as zhann says.