Union Township Rep. John Becker introduced a bill on Nov. 14 that, if passed, would introduce regulations that would ban most public and private health insurance policies, including Medicaid, from covering abortions and several common methods of contraception.
According to a press release from NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, H.B. 351 would manipulate language on the Ohio Revised Code to redefine abortion services and restrict public hospitals from performing abortions — even on women whose lives are at risk due to the pregnancy or who have been victims of rape.
NARAL Executive Director Kellie Copeland commented, “Imagine facing a life-threatening pregnancy complication and being told that your insurance won’t cover the procedure because Ohio politicians banned that coverage. Imagine becoming pregnant as the result of a rape, and having to cover the cost of an abortion out of pocket because this bill became law. It’s unthinkable.”
Becker’s bill has yet to be assigned to a committee.
