Public Act 182 of 2013, known as the “Rape Insurance Bill” was passed on Wednesday Dec. 11 and has taken effect this March. This bill requires a separate rider to be purchased for health insurance for abortion including in cases of incest or rape.
The “citizen-initiated” law, backed by Right to Life of Michigan, will take effect in March without crossing the governor’s desk or appearing on the statewide ballot next year. Michigan Right to Life was able to gather enough signatures representing a mere 4.2 percent of Michigan voters to put a bill before the state legislature. I find it appalling that less than five percent of Michigan voters can make a decision for the other 95 percent of Michigan residents.
“This tells women who were raped…that they should have thought ahead and planned for it,” said Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, an East Lansing Democrat. This statement summarizes the argument clearly. Rape is not something that should be planned for. Planning for rape shows that we are desensitized to this horrific act, and that it is a common place event.
During the Debates Whitmer disclosed that she was a rape victim. “I felt it was important for my Republican colleagues to see the face of the women they’re hurting with their actions today. I can’t even begin to imagine now having to think about the same thing happening to my own daughters.”
After Whitmer spoke Democratic state Representative Collene Lamonte spoke about her miscarriage. Lamonte pointed out that if she didn’t have insurance coverage for the dilation and curettage that was necessary to end the doomed pregnancy, her hospital bill could have been unaffordable.
“I would have been denied this procedure. Or we would have had an expensive medical bill that would have bankrupted us.” The fact that non-elective abortions can be effected by this is another injustice. If a women has to undergo the emotional pain of losing a child from a doomed pregnancy and then worry about the cost including the fact that her insurance may not cover it. In fact, the words “elective pregnancy” in this case is incorrect labeling.
The “Rape Insurance Bill” was never signed by Gov. Snyder. In fact, Snyder vetoed a similar bill last year saying, “I don’t believe it is appropriate to tell a woman who becomes pregnant due to a rape that she needed to select elective insurance coverage.” The Department of Community Health statistics shows that a mere three percent of the more than 20,000 abortions that are performed in Michigan in 2012 were covered by insurance.
One egregious misconception about abortion is that it can be funded through tax payer dollars. The Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal funding of abortion care for low-income women since 1976. “It’s one thing for you to pay for your abortion and another thing for me to have to pay for it,” the spokeswoman for Right to Life Michigan said of the legislation The level of misinformation from individuals leading the war against women’s rights is again appalling.
In the debates, none of the facts presented above were even mentioned, nor the fact that the number of abortions has decreased or the fact that Viagra and STD treatments are currently funded through taxpayer dollars. The Detroit Free Press stated, “It’s unclear how much the riders in the employer-sponsored plans will cost.”
This is one of the components that I find particularly unsettling. College students are one of the largest groups that is uninsured in America, and are at the greatest risk for needing the insurance riders, because more than 50 percent of rapes take place on college campuses. I feel that those individuals who would be unable to pay out of pocket for services will be unable to afford the extra cost each month (like college students), which has been estimated as high as an extra $15 a month.
david • Mar 28, 2014 at 7:35 pm
“David, reread your statement and tell me just how hypocritical you are. Who am I to tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her body, but if my wife does what she wants with her body I’ll divorce her! ”
It isn’t hypocritical at all. If my wife were to become pregnant, it would be just as much my child as it is hers. If she were to choose to abort my child, then she and I have fundamentally different beliefs in regards to what is right and wrong. This is why I would divorce her.
“As for you not believing that insurance should cover abortions, why should my insurance cover Viagra, penis implants, and circumcisions?”
I find it rather odd that you would add circumcisions to your list, but sure OK. I’m all for those things not being covered by insurance. They are elective treatments that have little to no “medical” value. But since the discussion was about abortions I didn’t feel the need to complicate things by turning it into a “if I can’t have it, neither can you” debate.
“Abortions are expensive, and women no matter what the reason should be allowed this basic part of woman’s reproductive health despite what the reason is.”
Condoms are cheap, free in fact at Planned Parenthood. I’m guessing you can get them free at the Vielmetti Health Center, its on the ground floor of Gries Hall. It’s better to prevent an unwanted pregnancy than to abort one after the fact. It’s far better psychologically as well as the toll on a woman can last for a very long time. Many women seek counseling for years after aborting a child. I once knew a woman who suffered severe depression as a result of having an abortion. She eventually stepped in front of a bus in San Diego after writing a note to her mother explaining that she couldn’t live with the regret. Birth control is covered by insurance as well. If you are having sex and doing nothing preventative yourself to keep from becoming pregnant, you really need to question your choices.
“If I were to get pregnant right now, why should I be punished with the burden of a child? When the man I slept with can just walk away, with Friend of the Courts not helping at all?”
First, becoming pregnant is a consequence of having sex, not a punishment. Consequence and punishment are not synonymous. That you would view it as punishment is proof that you aren’t mature enough, emotionally, to be having sex. See my comments above about PREVENTIVE actions you can take so that you do not become pregnant until you are ready for that burden.
Secondly, ANY “man” who you sleep with that is unwilling to use a condom at your request, in tandem with your birth control method, so that you do not accidently get punished as you call it is a selfish little boy who is only interested in his own needs and pleasure. He isn’t worth your time, no matter how hot he might be. Dump him, immediately, without thought or regret, you can do so much better. There are good men out there, even at your age, who will put you first, they will respect you and your wishes. Be picky, choose wisely.
Thirdly, eight years ago I married a single mother of three girls. They are now 11, 15, and 20. The 20 year old is a full time college student. In the time that my wife and I have been together and I have been raising my daughters, not ONE SINGLE PENNY, of child support has entered our household. Their biological father contributes nothing financially, or otherwise for that matter, to their care. A year before the oldest graduated from High School she announced her intentions to go to college. We learned that she would not qualify for any Federal Financial Aid because due to my income combined with my military retirement I made too much money. We realized however that we couldn’t afford college tuition either. So, I took a job a different job that I didn’t want, that I don’t like, moved 700 miles away to a place I HATE living, and lived without my wife and girls by my side for a year before they moved with me so that she could go to college and achieve her dreams. I work between 70 and 80 hours a week so that she can be where she is at. Trust me, you have nothing to teach me about dead beat fathers and the failures of the Michigan Friend of the Courts.
“This law was passed by the Right To Life organization, an extremist organization that is forcing Michigan women to live by their beliefs, how on earth is 4% the voice of Michigan?”
Many laws are passed because a very loud minority group pushed for it. 59% ( a clear majority) of Michigan voters asked for a Constitutional Amendment defining a “marriage” as being between one man and one woman. Yet here we are today, just days away from same sex marriages being recognized (and very rightly so) by the state of Michigan. Because a loud, vocal, minority group wants it to be so. It’s the way our political system works. It isn’t perfect, but it’s the best one on the planet.
“As stated in the article 50% of rapes happen on college campuses.”
Let me reiterate my support of insurance covering abortions where the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or a truly medical emergency that puts the mothers health at risk. It’s the elective, abortion as a form of birth control, abortions that I don’t want to subsidize when I pay my premium.
My fatherly advice to you is this. Take steps to PREVENT getting pregnant should you have sex. Only have sex with a man who will put you ahead of himself and will respect your request to use birth control. This is the same advice that I have given to my daughters (well I haven’t had the discussion with the 11 year old yet but it’s coming some day in the not too distant future).
Brionna D. • Mar 28, 2014 at 7:28 am
“I find abortion to be a highly disgusting act. If my wife were to become pregnant and have an abortion I would divorce her the day after. She knows this. We have discussed it at length both before and after getting married.
That being said, who am I to tell her, or any other woman, what she can and can’t do with her body. That is a decision that only a woman in that situation can or should make. I would never take that right away from them” David, reread your statement and tell me just how hypocritical you are. Who am I to tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her body, but if my wife does what she wants with her body I’ll divorce her!
As for you not believing that insurance should cover abortions, why should my insurance cover Viagra, penis implants, and circumcisions? Abortions are expensive, and women no matter what the reason should be allowed this basic part of woman’s reproductive health despite what the reason is. I for example am a college student, no I cannot afford three beers a month or an additional $15. I have to support myself and all my money goes towards paying tuition or helping my mother make bills for the month. If I were to get pregnant right now, why should I be punished with the burden of a child? When the man I slept with can just walk away, with Friend of the Courts not helping at all?
Nope. Eff that noise, I’d get an abortion immediately, because my body can’t physically handle a child and nor can my wallet. I would be bringing that child into a world of poverty, a world that I grew up in and am struggling to get out of; not exactly a world I want my child to grow up in. And adoption is a load of shit because I know many people who have been through the adoption system and it has done them no favors psychologically.
This law was passed by the Right To Life organization, an extremist organization that is forcing Michigan women to live by their beliefs, how on earth is 4% the voice of Michigan?
As stated in the article 50% of rapes happen on college campuses. We’re exposing the most vulnerable, those without insurance to what the FBI claims as the 2nd most violent crime anyone can experience; with 97% of those committing the crime NEVER SEEING A DAY IN JAIL! Let women have their abortions. Fight back! Student protests are growing, a few protests have already gone on at the Capital Building.
Aaron Bower • Mar 27, 2014 at 7:02 pm
David,
The “Rape Insurance Bill” effects the Affordable Care act. So, even those who have insurance through the affordable care act in the state of Michigan must still purchase the rider. According to Inside Higher Ed Magazine, in 2011, 1.7 million college students did not have insurance, or payed for their own out of packet. I applaud your open viewpoint in letting women decide for themselves. Rick Synder said ““I don’t believe it is appropriate to tell a woman who becomes pregnant due to a rape that she needed to select elective insurance coverage. Second, the abortion changes in this bill interfere in the current private market for insurance. Insurance companies and private buyers of insurance should be able to conduct their own affairs.”
david • Mar 27, 2014 at 5:49 pm
I find abortion to be a highly discusting act. If my wife were to become pregnant and have an abortion I would divorce her the day after. She knows this. We have discussed it at length both before and after getting married.
That being said, who am I to tell her, or any other woman, what she can and can’t do with her body. That is a decision that only a woman in that situation can or should make. I would never take that right away from them. But I also don’t believe that all insurance plans should cover abortion either simply because I believe that it violates the rights of others to withold their support of a practice which they are against. I think that exceptions should be made in extreme circumstances (rape and incest would fall into that category for me as well as a couple of others). But I am in favor, generally speaking, of policy riders for abortion, especially in the case of women who become pregnant because of their own personal poor decision making. Which is statistically far, far mor likely to occur than pregnancy through rape or incest.
Correct me if I’m wrong here. My daughter is in college now and she is still covered under my insurance policy. In fact, part of the Affordable Care Act states that children are now covered on their parents insurance until the age of 26. For those students whose parents don’t have insurance I suspect that they would largely qualify for Medicare and pay nothing for insurance due to their low income. How many college students are actually paying out of pocket for their own healcare now under the ACA? A $15.00 per month rider on a policy doesn’t seem like all that much to me. I mean how many college students can’t afford three beers per month? I know I always seemed scrape together beer money when I was in college. But alas, like me back then, I’m sure that you all have your priorities.