Ask President Obama WHY his admin is restricting coverage for vulnerable women. I did.
My letter to Obama:
Subject: Abortion in High Risk Pools
Dear President Obama and Secretary Sebelius,
I am deeply concerned by your recent decision to voluntarily and unnecessarily exclude abortion from the services covered in the newly-created high-risk insurance pools. Women participating in high-risk insurance pools are particularly vulnerable and may have a special need for abortion. Because of the restriction, a woman with heart disease or diabetes might be compelled to carry a pregnancy to term despite its potentially damaging effect on her future health. Or, a woman who is diagnosed with cancer and needs an abortion before she can get treatment might be forced to delay care.
Everyone’s circumstances and health care needs are different. And every woman should be able to decide what is best for her health and her family. Health care reform should improve women’s health and lives, not interfere with their ability to get the health care they need.
I am deeply troubled that a pro-choice administration would restrict abortion access and would like to know why you are reducing coverage for vulnerable women.
Especially when there is already extensive anti-choice legislation already passed in 11 states this year.
nytimes.com
Gov. Jindal has signed into law legislation requiring mandatory ultrasounds which are medically unnecessary before abortion— even in cases of rape and incest. The war to restrict women’s access to abortion continues on the state level constantly.
Just last week Virginia voted to deny Medicaid coverage of abortion to women whose lives are substantially endangered by their pregnancy.
littlegreenfootballs.com
This strategy has been ongoing since the passage of Roe v Wade: if you can’t overturn it on the federal level, do everything you can on the local levels to make it meaningless — by restricting women’s ability to obtain the legally protected medical procedure which is their right— not ‘merely’ a choice.
Mr, President, I voted for you, campaigned for you, and will again. I have worked for reproductive freedom all my life. Please continue to work for me and the women of this country; the GOP never will, nor will Democrats like Bart Stupak.
Concessions to these people are never compromises. They will not stop— and neither will the women like me or those who care about women.
Sincerely,
[name, address, phone, deleted]
———————————————————————————-
See RH Reality Check for the background and links to further coverage and ACLU’s action alert if you want to write too.