Rep. Schmick’s Health Care Update: Abortion Coverage Mandate
CONTACT: Brendon Wold, Deputy Communications Director | 360-786-7698
Rep. Schmick’s Health Care Update: Abortion Coverage Mandate
House Republicans' Home | Our Solutions for Health Care | House Health Care & Wellness Committee
Hello,
I'm writing to let you know about House Bill 1044 we will be hearing in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. which would require all private, state-regulated health plans to provide coverage for abortions if the plan provides maternity coverage. Under Obamacare, all health plans are required to provide maternity coverage; therefore, if this bill passes, all plans will also be required to cover abortions.
This says to health insurers, employers and individuals that health plans in our state must include abortion coverage—regardless of their beliefs on abortion:
- This is a direct attack on religious liberty and freedom.
- Federal law offers protections for health insurers to determine whether or not they will offer abortion coverage in their health plans.
The advocates of this bill are manipulating restrictions on federal funding for abortion coverage to justify the state requiring health insurers to cover abortions. This expansion is undue and unneeded—in short it is a solution looking for a problem.
What can YOU do?
Come to the hearing in Olympia and testify against the legislation. Tell the Committee you do not want to be forced to buy health insurance coverage for abortions in which you have a moral or religious objection. The proponents like to call this bill “Reproductive Parity” but I call it what it is, an “Abortion Coverage Mandate.”
Information for people wishing to tell proponents what they think of an abortion coverage mandate:
Thursday, January 31 at 8:00 a.m.
House Health Care and Wellness Committee
House Hearing Room B
John L. O'Brien Building
416 Sid Snyder Ave.
Olympia, WA 98504
If you are unable to make it to Olympia, call the Legislative Hotline to speak to your Representative about your opposition to the Abortion Coverage Mandate: 1-800-562-6000.
In addition, you can e-mail or call the chair of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, Rep. Eileen Cody at:
303 John L. O'Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7978
eileen.cody@leg.wa.gov
If you need any assistance when coming to Olympia or have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact my office:
432 John L. O'Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7844
Sincerely,
Joe Schmick
State Representative Joe Schmick
9th Legislative District
E-mail: joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/schmick
432 John L. O'Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7844 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
