Abortion law may mean city policy changes
For years, some Arizona cities have offered an insurance package to its employees that covered elective abortions. Now, with a new state law set to go into effect July 29, they will have to change their policies.
Senate Bill 1305 states that public funds or tax dollars cannot be used to fund a health-insurance policy that “provides coverage, benefits or services related to the performance of any abortion.” It does allow exceptions if the woman’s life is at risk or if the abortion would prevent “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the woman.”
Phoenix and Chandler have insurance policies that allow for legal, elective abortions. Mesa and Scottsdale staff did not return calls seeking information regarding whether their policies allowed abortions. Glendale and Tucson officials said their cities already are in compliance.
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The bill does have one new component. It states that Arizona will elect out of any health-insurance policy set up through the federal health-care-reform act that covers abortion. Arizona residents could still add abortion coverage for an additional cost.
“At one point, 28 states were considering (electing out), but Arizona was the first to have their governor sign it,” Herrod said.
Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill at the annual Center for Arizona Policy fundraiser dinner.
Here’s the “About” page from the organization mentioned in that last paragraph: azpolicy.org