Michigan Lawmakers To Consider Separate Insurance For Abortion

A petition to require women to buy additional insurance for abortion was certified Monday

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Michigan lawmakers are set to consider a controversial proposal that would require women to buy additional health insurance specifically to cover abortions.

The petition was approved Monday by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, and state lawmakers will now weigh whether to pass it into law or send it to a statewide ballot referendum next November, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The proposal prohibits all public and private health insurers from offering abortion coverage in policies. A separate rider would needed to be purchased, which means people would have to preemptively purchase the rider without knowing if they’ll ever need it. The rider could not be purchased after getting pregnant, including in cases of rape or incest.

The petition was submitted by the anti-abortion group Right to Life of Michigan, which submitted more than 300,000 signatures. Legislative leaders have not yet confirmed whether they will vote on the issue, which is expected to reach the Legislature on Tuesday when it returns from a two-week break.

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