Title
Calling on Congress to reinstate abortion service coverage for women enrolled in public insurance programs by enacting the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act, and further calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide abortion coverage in public insurance programs in Pennsylvania and lift the ban on such coverage in private insurance plans sold through the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange.
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WHEREAS, Reproductive health is a critical component of women's overall health, and women need access to safe, affordable, and comprehensive reproductive health care throughout their lives, including screening for cancer and sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive services, abortion care, prenatal care, and labor and delivery services; and
WHEREAS, Woman's freedom to make reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in society, however, more than 84,000 Philadelphia women of reproductive age enrolled in Medicaid are denied coverage for comprehensive pregnancy-related care that includes abortion care, because of bans on such coverage imposed by federal and state lawmakers; and
WHEREAS, Many women in Philadelphia, including state and federal employees, Peace Corps members, beneficiaries of Indian Health Services and military insurance programs, obtain insurance coverage through other public insurance programs that also include restrictions on coverage for abortion; and
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court since 1973 has ruled that a woman's ability to make her own personal medical decisions about when or whether to have children is a protected Constitutional right; and
WHEREAS, Notwithstanding these Constitutionally protected rights to safe and affordable abortions, severe restrictions in the Hyde Amendment, passed by Congress on September 30, 1976, have impeded the ability of low-income women enrolled in the Medicaid he...
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