“The people of South Carolina should not be forced to fund insurance plans that cover abortion. AULA has assisted numerous States throughout the nation to enact legislation establishing that abortion is not healthcare and should not be covered by government-subsidized insurance.” Said AULA’s Dr. Charmaine Yoest.

Columbia, S.C. (5-24-12) – Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called on South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to sign a newly passed bill, S. 102, that would prohibit insurance plans that cover abortions from being offered through state exchanges established pursuant to the federal Affordable Care Act.  The bill is based on AUL model language to protect the interest of taxpayers who do not want their tax dollars subsidizing abortion coverage.  The South Carolina House sent the bill up this week to the governor’s office for signature.

“During the healthcare debates, we learned that 7 in 10 Americans — both pro-life and pro-abortion — do not want their tax dollars to fund abortion,” said Dr. Yoest.  “This South Carolina bill is a bi-partisan effort to protect taxpayers from involvement with the unregulated, unmonitored, unsavory abortion industry.”

Senator Larry Grooms introduced S. 102 so that insurance plans that cover abortions will not be permitted to participate in any healthcare Exchange established within the State. The Exchanges are required in President Obama’s healthcare law.

For more information on “opting-out” of the abortion coverage provision in the Affordable Care Act, click here.