Texas governor signs bill restricting insurance coverage for abortions

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a legislation that restricts state funding for abortions through insurance plans.

House Bill 214, which limits insurance coverage for abortion procedures, was signed into law by Abbott on Tuesday.

"A qualified health plan offered through a health benefit exchange may not provide coverage for elective abortion," the bill states.

The measure, which was passed by the House last week and approved by the Senate on Sunday, is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1.

Abbott stated on Tuesday that he was "proud to sign legislation that ensures no Texan is ever required to pay for a procedure that ends the life of an unborn child."

"This bill prohibits insurance providers from forcing Texas policy holders to subsidize elective abortions. I am grateful to the Texas legislature for getting this bill to my desk, and working to protect innocent life this special session," he added.

The pro-life measure, chiefly sponsored by Republican State Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo, carries an exemption for cases of medical emergency to save the mother's life.

"What we're saying here is: If you want to buy this coverage, you can buy it," Smithee stated during the House debate. "This isn't about who can get an abortion. It is about who is forced to pay for an abortion," he added.

Democratic Sen. Sylvia Garcia contended that the bill amounts to nothing but "rape insurance." She fought for additional exemptions to the legislation, but her efforts were defeated on a party line 20–10 vote.

HB214 was one of three abortion-related bills Abbott wanted to be passed during his special 30-day legislative session. The second bill, passed by both state chambers on Friday, would require doctors and health clinics to report abortion complications to the state in greater detail, according to Life Site News.

The third legislation, House Bill 215, aims to increase the level of reporting on minors who have had an abortion. The bill was approved by the House on Friday, while the Senate passed its own version of the bill, SB73, on July 25.

Similar laws keeping taxpayers out of the abortion insurance business are currently in effect in 10 other states. Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Oklahoma imposes restrictions on taxpayer funding for abortions through insurance plans in all cases except when the mother's life is at risk. Indiana and Utah have similar laws but provide exemptions in cases of rape and incest.