Under current Pennsylvania law, abortions may only be covered under Commonwealth employee insurance plans in the case of life endangerment, rape, or incest. Abortion is health care. The news of the past few years has taught us that waiting until a patient is near death to provide necessary health care endangers the woman’s life and future fertility. In some cases, children have lost their mothers because critical health care was denied until it was too late. The Commonwealth’s prohibition of insurance coverage for a basic health care procedure is antithetical to the point of health insurance.
 
My package will amend the parts of Pennsylvania law that prevent coverage of abortions under Commonwealth insurance plans. The Commonwealth cannot attract the best talent, and treat its workforce with the respect it deserves, if it unnecessarily limits its health insurance offerings.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to support access to health insurance for Commonwealth employees.