Health care reform was passed to help women living with pre-existing conditions like HIV access health insurance that covers the care we need at premiums we can afford. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is getting ready to help states implement Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans across the nation – a huge stride in increasing access to care for all people and especially women living with HIV.
But sadly, the Obama administration has chosen to impose a complete restriction on access to abortion for people covered by the new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans, except in cases of rape or incest, or where the life of the woman would be endangered. This violation of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights is neither mandated by the new health care reform law, not by any other federal laws and regulations.
The U.S. Positive Women’s Network and the Center for Women & HIV Advocacy at the HIV Law Project, in partnership with other organizations serving women living with HIV submitted official comments to HHS demanding that this restriction on abortion be removed. Read the comments here