Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Abortion insurance to be considered in Wash. Legislature

In the session that begins next week in Olympia, the Washington Legislature will consider a bill that would require private insurance companies the cover maternity care to also pay for abortions.

The Seattle Times reports abortion rights groups will announce details at a news conference Sunday in Seattle.

Supporters include Rep. Eileen Cody of Seattle, who heads the House health care committee.

Dan Kennedy of the anti-abortion group Human Life of Washington says it will be vigorously opposed. It remains to be seen how the proposed legislation would be affected by the federal health care overhaul.

Washington voters approved the abortion right in 1991, passing an initiative that also requires insurance funded by the state to cover the medical procedure.

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.