I generally agree with you that this will allow states to make exemptions based upon conscientious objections. I don't agree with Madeline pretending her posts throughout this thread were accurate. First, this will not set back women's reproductive rights 100 years. Second, there is no basis for States to outright ban abortion/contraceptive coverage in this bill.
Sorry, I missed this.
I don't speak for Madeline, she can hold her own and stand by her own posts.
No, there is no basis for States to outright ban contraceptive coverage. BUT there is an opportunity for insurers, as defined health care providers under the statute, to opt out of anything from contraception to provision of certain medications to organ transplants to hospice care or anything else as a matter of "conscience" if the State includes those things in their conscience provisions. And there is nothing that can be done about it.
That's the concern for me. Contraception is only the tip of the iceberg, it will take away choice and availability in coverage on a multitude of services depending on the State. Those providers who do offer services that fall under State conscience provisions will have less competition, so costs will go up. The balance will be picked up by government programs such as MC and MA or eaten by the provider.
Not an improvement, IMO. Abortion funding is already banned in the current language, why divorce the conscience provisions if not to shield the insurers?