It's No Joke: Healthcare Reform Should Cover Abortion Services

Dear [Decision Maker],

I believe in a simple principle: when someone needs medical care, insurance should be there to pay for it.

Under the Stupak-Pitts abortion ban in the House-passed health care reform bill (and similar amendments pending in the Senate), women would not be covered for abortions - even medically necessary abortions - despite spending their own money to purchase insurance coverage.

Anyone who bought insurance through the more affordable public option would also be banned from getting coverage for abortion services, even if their own money was used to buy insurance.

These amendments would make it nearly impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new health care reform to offer abortion coverage to women. This is unacceptable.

Here are the facts: A majority of private health insurance plans now provide coverage for abortion services. One in 3 women will have an abortion within her lifetime, and abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures.

I find it odd that the same members of Congress who oppose health care reform as "big government" now want to get into the room between women and their doctors and dictate the terms of women's health care coverage.

[Your comments here]

Please vote against any amendment restricting coverage of abortion services in the health care reform bill. Congress must not ban health care coverage for abortion that millions of women already have. No ban on abortion coverage.

Thank you for your time.