Texas House Bill HB1435

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to health plan and health benefit plan coverage for abortions.

Impact

The bill introduces provisions that require health benefit plans offering abortion coverage to clearly provide this coverage separately from other health benefits, necessitating an additional premium. It also mandates that enrollees must actively choose to include abortion coverage when signing up for their health plans. This could create barriers for individuals seeking to access abortion services, as they will need to navigate additional administrative hurdles and costs.

Summary

House Bill 1435 focuses on the parameters of health plan and health benefit plan coverage related to abortions in Texas. It establishes strict guidelines on when such procedures can be covered under qualified health plans, primarily limiting coverage to circumstances where a life-threatening physical condition exists, as determined by a medical professional's reasonable judgment. This represents a significant change in how health benefits related to abortion are structured, affecting both private insurers and public healthcare exchanges.

Contention

Notably, the legislation does not allow for abortion coverage based on potential future health risks resulting from a voluntary act. This could lead to victims of situations such as incest or rape facing difficulties in obtaining necessary healthcare. Critics of the bill argue that these restrictions infringe upon women's rights and their ability to make informed choices about their own health care, while proponents claim that it aligns abortions with the policies aimed at protecting both mothers and unborn children.