"Couple Sues Over Abortion Coverage In Access Health CT Plans"

[VMA131Marine]

Source: Hartford Courant

WASHINGTON — Thanks to subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, Barth and Abbie Bracy of Dayville, Conn., can buy a comprehensive health insurance policy through Access Health CT for only $2.63 a month. But they are suing the exchange, and federal officials, over what they say are moral principles.

Barth Bracy is executive director of Rhode Island Right to Life and a deacon at his Catholic church. He and his wife strongly oppose abortion.

With the help of a conservative, anti-abortion group, the couple is suing Access Health CT, outgoing Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and other federal officials because they say Connecticut's health exchange does not offer any policies that exclude abortion coverage.

Their lawsuit alleges the Bracys are forced to pay an "abortion surcharge" included in the premiums of all policies sold on the exchange. There are more than 20 individual policies offered on Access Health CT by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, ConnectiCare and HealthyCT.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/business/hc-ctm-access-health-ct-abortion-law-suit-20140506,0,5799334.story

---

The phrase "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" comes to mind. On the other hand, this couple is perfectly free to buy a policy off the exchange that doesn't include abortion coverage. Actually, I'm pretty sure that abortion coverage lowers insurers costs (as it does with contraception) because the cost of childbirth is far more.

[liberal N proud]

1. Considering the state of our courts, they may win.

[LeftOfWest]

13. Agree. n/t

[mercuryblues]

2. let 'em

buy private insurance from Blue Cross then. No one is forcing them to purchase insurance off the exchange for less than $3 a month. May they rot in a rat infested hole filled with puss.

[jtuck004]

3. "they say Connecticut's health exchange does not offer any policies that exclude abortion coverage."

If that is true, it is interesting that the insurance market doesn't see it as cost effective to offer one without it.

Because if the thieving bastards at health insurance cos thought they could stick a nickel in their pocket even if it killed someone they would.

[ebbie15644]

4. Why should they worry about it? Are they planning on needing it?

[JaneyVee]

5. Um, abortion is legal and constitutional.

[mountain grammy]

6. A stupid, frivolous lawsuit. Let's hope it doesn't make it to the stupid, frivolous 5 SC justices.

[YOHABLO]

7. Oh it probably will go to the SCOTUS and they'll rule in their favor .. FASCISM marches on.

[enlightenment]

8. In class today, we were discussing this general topic

(opposition to abortion coverage in health insurance plans) and one of my students said: "it's like they think the coverage is going to ooze out and infect them with progressiveness."

Had to laugh at the image, even if the reality is hardly a laughing matter, particularly given the state of our justice system.

[dballance]

9. Can I sue to prevent Viagra and Cialis coverage?

I'm sure it must contribute to adultery and fornication. There are lots of prohibitions to those in the Bible.

[lostincalifornia]

10. We're they covered by policies before the ACA that covered birth control and abortions? Did it

Bother them then

Insurance policies have always covered conditions that don't apply to some people, but apply to others. No one gave them the right to make the rules and determine what should or should not be covered, and no forces anyone to use a covered item in their policy either

Gee, I have cable or satellite tv, yet I don't watch most of the channels, but they make me pay for channels I don't watch

[Dawson Leery]

11. Stop forcing tax payers to subsidize churches. Tax them.

[SunSeeker]

12. +100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[mountain grammy]

14. yes, 100% correct!!

[Skittles]

15. WTF

if they're only paying 3 bucks a month THEY ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED by plenty of people who have to put up with THEIR inolerance

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Can a Jehavoh's witness sue to exclude blood transfusion coverage? If not, then these guys have no

case.

[xxqqqzme]

17. Do they think because

termination coverage is included, they are required to terminate a pregnancy?
This makes no sense, but then stupid people do that to me.

[Acornsouth]

18. If you are not planning on having an abortion......

then this is a non-starter.....and for $2.63 a month, maybe your anger is directed in the wrong direction....bitch to the insurance company's, for they are the one that developed all these insurance policy's..not the ACA.......and at that price, your maybe you can just swallow some of that morality knowing that you will never have an abortion, but maybe a rape victims will.....

Time to stop letting the few dictate to the many on what is moral and what is not....Until Roe vs Wade is overturned, and it may happen soon in the Roberts dysfunctional court, then it is still law and constitutional.....

[liberal N proud]

19. These morons don't think that way

They are more concerned with pressing their beliefs on others while bemoaning anything that might infringe on that.

It is the loudmouths who get all the attention and more recently they are getting the attention they want as opposed the attention they deserve.

[Vinca]

20. So go to a private broker for a customized plan and pay $1,200 a month. Idiots.

[Omaha Steve]

21. IF it becomes medically necessary to save Abbie with an abortion

Would Barth and Abbie choose letting Abbie die? The fetus would die too.

IF abortion coverage is eliminated, would something like this not be covered?

OS

[Orsino]

22. I will not support any law mandating that Abbie Bracy get an abortion. n/t

[Ilsa]

23. And where would you find such a law? nt