No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023 This bill modifies provisions relating to federal funding for, and health insurance coverage of, abortions. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions or for health coverage that includes abortions. Such restrictions extend to the use of funds in the budget of the District of Columbia. Additionally, abortions may not be provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. Historically, language has been included in annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions—such language is commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment. Similar language is also frequently included in appropriations bills for other federal agencies and the District of Columbia. The bill makes these restrictions permanent and extends the restrictions to all federal funds (rather than specific agencies). The bill's restrictions regarding the use of federal funds do not apply in cases of rape, incest, or where a physical disorder, injury, or illness endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed. The Hyde Amendment provides the same exceptions. The bill also prohibits qualified health plans from including coverage for abortions. Currently, qualified health plans may cover abortion, but the portion of the premium attributable to abortion coverage is not eligible for subsidies.
If enacted, SB62 would significantly alter the landscape of federal funding related to reproductive healthcare. It restricts both direct funding for abortion services and requires that health insurance plans qualifying for federal subsidies exclude abortion coverage. The implications of this could lead to reduced access to abortion services for many women relying on public health programs and insurers that are federally subsidized. Consequently, this might push individuals toward private insurance options if they can afford them, which introduces a layer of inequity based on socioeconomic status.
Senate Bill 62, titled the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023, aims to prohibit any federal allocation of funds for abortions or any health insurance plans that cover abortion services. This bill seeks to make permanent existing restrictions, commonly known as the Hyde Amendment, which had limited federal funding for abortion on a yearly basis but had not established a long-term prohibition. The legislation applies to all federal funds, including those within the budget of the District of Columbia, which amplifies its reach and potential implications for local governance of health services.
There are notable points of contention surrounding SB62, particularly regarding the exceptions for abortions that are medically necessary, such as those resulting from rape, incest, or to preserve the life of the mother. While the bill retains these exceptions, critics argue that the stringent restrictions could still result in many women being forced to navigate a complex and potentially costly path to access necessary healthcare services. Opponents of the bill highlight concerns about how these changes could disproportionately affect low-income women and those relying on public health services in their quest for reproductive health alternatives.