Mobile, Alabama (WKRG) — After the Roe v. Wade case is overturned, Alabama must travel out of state for abortion treatment.
For those seeking an abortion, the cost of an abortion drug and surgical procedure can be $ 750 or more. But do you need health insurance to provide abortion coverage?
Alabama law prohibits insurance companies from covering most abortion costs, but what if your life is at stake?
Abortion is illegal in Alabama, whether women or people have been raped or victims of incest. The only exception to the law is when human life is at stake.
Even if you have federal or private insurance, Alabama law is designed to limit health insurance before the Roe v. Wade case is overturned. Most insurers bear the cost of abortion even if a person’s life is at stake, but Alabama law does not require it to do so.
Alabama law does not require insurers to cover these cases, but federal law includes abortion care when the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act puts insurers at risk of human life. Mandatory to cover lifesaving services. Without this federal law, insurance companies could take this care out of coverage and force a woman to pay the full cost of an abortion, even if her life is at stake.
Alabama law does not require insurance companies to bear the cost of abortion.Life-threatening cases are protected under federal law
Alabama lawmakers have taken some steps to ensure that insurers cannot cover abortion, but demanding that insurers cover abortion costs if life is at stake. There was not.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, Medicaid is the only plan that requires abortion compensation, but this is in a “very limited situation.” Medicaid may not have the best coverage compared to private plans. It is also uncertain whether this requirement will be maintained, as Alabama lawmakers did not require private companies to have this requirement prior to the overthrow of the Roe v. Wade case.
The breakdown is as follows.
Types of insurance offered in Alabama | Need to cover this? |
Civil servant insurance system | No |
Private insurance plan | No |
Marketplace plan (Medicade, Medicare, etc.) | * Only if you endanger your life |
What does that mean for the Alabama people?
According to NPR, women are protected by federal law, but can be complicated if Alabama law does not provide guidance on what is life-threatening. The pressure is high for Alabama doctors. They must make the right decision for the patient, but the wrong diagnosis can mean prison time under state law.
Alabama doctors can hesitate to treat a person, even if their lives are at stake. Without guidance to endanger the lives of physicians, it would be an equally complex case for healthcare providers. Although technically protected, pregnant people may have to fight to prove that their lives are bold to be reported.
Can I get an abortion medical care if I have Medicaid insurance?
In most cases, you cannot have an abortion using Medicaid, Medicare, and other forms of federal health insurance. The Hyde Amendment prevents federal funds from being used for those seeking abortion.
The only exception to these rules is in the case of life-threatening rape or incest. In restricted states, it is almost impossible to seek an abortion under Medicaid. In some restrictive states, you need to prove that you have been raped or your life is at stake. To be accepted under Medicaid, the person must submit a police report or consult a doctor.
Similar restrictions apply to insureds under the Medicare and Affordable Care Act. For protected state people, abortion is usually subject to Medicaid and Health Insurance reforms.
Is Medicaid Insurance available outside the state?
No, you can’t. Abortion covered by federal programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Affordable Medical Care Act requires insured protection.
What if Planned Parenthood doesn’t accept my insurance?
Those seeking an abortion must pay at their own expense. Planned Parenthood Clinic provides financial assistance if a person cannot afford it. Most clinics work one-on-one with the person to plan payments and find other ways to cover the costs. Alabamas should consult a planned parent’s clinic outside the state. Click here for more information.
If you have problems providing abortion care, please click this link.
Where can I get an abortion?
The closest place for those seeking abortion care is North Carolina. Abortion is still permitted in Florida and Georgia, but is severely restricted. Click this link for more information on abortion medical locations.