Health insurers in Michigan can no longer offer elective abortion coverage in standard health plans.
As The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher reports, the controversial law approved late last year is now in effect.
Seven insurance companies are offering separate, optional abortion policies for employers to offer their workers. Those plans cost between a penny and 32 cents extra every month for each employee.
Pamela Sherstad is with Right to Life of Michigan.
“It’s not a lot of money,” she says. “But it is good for people to know whether or not it is part of their policy.”
But right now, no insurers are offering the so-called “rider” policies for individuals buying insurance on their own. State officials say current health plans will not be affected until they need to be renewed or replaced. They say only about three percent of abortions in Michigan were covered by insurance in 2012.