Baptist Press
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon health insurers and taxpayers will soon be paying for abortion, contraceptives, and sterilization under a new law Gov. Kate Brown has vowed to sign.
The newly-passed Reproductive Health Equity Act forbids health insurance plans from imposing “a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement” for abortion, STD screening, prenatal care, post-natal care, and all forms of contraception.
Churches and religious nonprofits will be exempt from the law if they notify employees they don’t cover contraceptives or abortion. The employees of those entities may turn to Oregon’s general fund, padded with more than $10 million, to cover abortion and contraceptives.
The bill also allocates $500,000 to cover abortions and contraceptives for illegal immigrants.
Brown said she plans to sign the bill, since being able “to control our bodies and make informed decisions about health are critical to providing all Oregonians the opportunity to achieve our full potential and live productive, thriving lives.”
Oregon Right to Life executive director Gayle Atteberry called the bill “morally reprehensible” and warned the abortion rate probably will rise — especially high-cost, late-term abortions.
