Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards' Statement on Abortion Ban in New High-Risk Insurance Pools

“Based on the Obama administration’s statement, we are deeply disappointed that the administration has voluntarily and unnecessarily decided to impose limits on private funds used to purchase health insurance coverage for abortion care in the new high-risk insurance pools. These pools are being established for Americans who cannot currently purchase private insurance because of pre-existing conditions such as breast cancer, AIDS, and heart disease. These pools are designed to offer health insurance coverage to individuals with high-risk conditions until 2014, when state-based health insurance exchanges are established under the Affordable Care Act. 

“The very women who need to purchase private health insurance in the new high-risk pools are likely to be more vulnerable to medically complicated pregnancies. It is truly harmful to these women that the administration may impose limits on how they use their own private dollars, limiting their health care options at a time when they need them most. This decision has no basis in the law and flies in the face of the intent of the high-risk pools that were meant to meet the medical needs of some of the most vulnerable women in this country."