Washington state passes law to require insurance coverage of abortion

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law that would require all health insurers to cover abortion if they also cover maternity care.

The law, the Reproductive Parity Act, had been considered for more than six years. It also would mandate coverage for every form of birth control, including emergency contraception, without any out-of-pocket costs.

The bill makes a few changes to provisions that are already available under federal laws and regulations. Under Obamacare, all health insurance plans across the country are required to cover maternity care but not abortions. In October, the Trump administration scaled back rules on contraception, saying that employers could refuse to cover it if they had religious or moral objections. The Washington law eclipses that exemption.

Inslee said at the bill’s signing that the law would “make sure that women have access to the full spectrum of healthcare they need without cost barriers or stigma.

“Reproductive healthcare, including family planning and abortion, is healthcare,” he said.

The Reproductive Parity Act had the backing of Planned Parenthood, which is aiming to have at least one bill introduced in every state that would expand access to abortion and other reproductive services.

Planned Parenthood credited a Democratic-controlled legislature for the law. It drew parallels to another win for the organization in New Jersey that restored funding to Planned Parenthood. That bill was signed into law shortly after the new Democratic governor, Phil Bryant, took office.

“We are done with politicians’ attacks on our freedoms and our healthcare,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Now is the time to unite and fight for everyone’s right to control our own bodies and futures.”