DOVER: On Thursday, the House passed legislation that would further expand access to abortion care in Delaware by requiring insurance carriers to provide coverage for abortion-related services.
Sponsored by House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown, HB 110 (S) would require all health benefit plans delivered or issued for Medicaid, private health insurance plans, and state employee insurance plans to cover services related to the termination of pregnancy.
“Abortion is healthcare, and it is recognized as such here in Delaware. Yet the financial constraints and stigma associated with abortion services act as enormous barriers to actually accessing them,” said Rep. Minor-Brown.
“Delawareans deserve to be empowered by their ability to make a healthcare choice that will best serve them. They should not be forced to struggle during a time when they are vulnerable and seeking help. By requiring insurance carriers to cover abortion services, HB 110 will act as another step in ensuring equitable access to healthcare.”
Under HB 110 (S), Medicaid would be required to cover up to $750 for services related to the termination of pregnancy. The bill would place similar requirements on private individual and group health insurance plans regulated by the state.
HB 110 (S) would also codify the abortion care coverage requirement for the state employee Group Health Insurance Plan and eliminate any cost-sharing, such as copays, for plan members.
According to KFF, nine states currently require abortion coverage in private health insurance plans, including nearby Maryland and New York. 17 states cover abortion services for people enrolled in Medicaid.
This legislation builds on the General Assembly’s earlier efforts to protect and increase access to reproductive care, including codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade into state law, establishing protections for abortion care providers and out-of-state residents seeking or receiving reproductive health care services in Delaware, and expanding the field of qualified medical professionals who can perform abortions.
HB 110 (S) would include an exemption allowing a religious employer to obtain an exclusion if the requirements conflict with the organization’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices.
The bill would take effect for Medicaid plans on January 1, 2025. For group and individual insurers, the bill would take effect after December 31, 2025.