PA Senate Votes to Limit Women's Health Options in Private Insurance

The Pennsylvania State Senate voted 37-12 to prevent private insurance policies available through the exchanges that will be set up under the federal health care law from covering abortion. Senate Bill 3 does allow exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, and does allow for coverage for miscarriage and complications resulting from miscarriage or abortion.

Marc Levy of the Associated Press, in "Pa. Senate OKs bill to limit abortion coverage," published in the Times Leader today, wrote, in part:

The federal law requires states to set up the exchanges to provide a marketplace where small businesses and individuals can buy coverage. The bill doesn't stop someone from buying supplemental abortion coverage outside the exchange, although the bill's opponents say such policies don't exist and are unlikely to be offered by insurance companies.

I'm unaware of any other medical procedures being legally and purposefully excluded from private health insurance policies.