Reproductive justice is always at the forefront of the news, with a near-constant threat of attack always looming. Last month, those in Texas were personally affected by the passing of #Hb214.
But what exactly is #HB214?
It is a Texas law that was signed into passing on August 15th. Passing by Governor Greg Abbott, this law effectively taxes women “who seek to obtain an abortion in the state by barring health insurers from providing coverage for abortions,” according to the Austin Chronicle. In accordance with this, Texas women will need to purchase a separate health insurance to cover abortions by December 1st.
This law moves one step closer to criminalizing abortion, taking steps towards the ultimate goal of limiting or restricting a woman’s reproductive rights.
#HB214 has turned abortion coverage into an insurance issue. This puts unnecessary pressure on individuals who can become pregnant to anticipate not only their likelihood of becoming pregnant, but also an abortion plan of action should they have an unplanned pregnancy.
This new law is only the latest in a long line of Texas’ anti-abortion legislature. Though there has been rising awareness, there is still the push to limit women’s access to reproductive justice. Along with Texas, a total of 35 states have already restricted abortion-related care coverage under insurance, either through the ACA or private insurance plans, according to The Guttmacher Institute. All of this push to restrict a woman’s right to choose also comes when abortions are actually at a record low across the country.
Following the signing of #HB214, Gov. Abbott had this to say about the legislature:
“As a firm believer in Texas values I am proud to sign legislation that ensures no Texan is ever required to pay for a procedure that ends the life of an unborn child. This bill prohibits insurance providers from forcing Texas policy holders to subsidize elective abortions. I am grateful to the Texas legislature for getting this bill to my desk, and working to protect innocent life this special session.”
The fight for reproductive justice is everpresent. #HB214 is one of the many examples on how legislation leads to real world consequences for so many women across the country.
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