McGill prepares anti-abortion bill – Times
Standard insurance plans offered in Alabama would not cover
elective abortions if a bill offered by state Sen. Shadrack McGill
becomes law.
McGill, R-Woodville, has filed Senate Bill 20, which would prohibit
health insurance coverage of elective abortions unless the insured
person has paid additional money for an abortion rider.
McGill has said anti-abortion bills would be his focus during the
next three years of his term.
SB 20 cites research from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which said
87 percent of typical employer-based insurance policies issued in
2002 covered medically necessary or appropriate abortions.
“Thus,” the bill states, “the vast majority of private health
insurance plans, often unbeknownst to employers and consumers,
covered elective abortions.”
The bill would mean that no health insurance plan offered in
Alabama would allow for “elective” abortions – defined as those
done for any other reason than being a spontaneous abortion or to
prevent the death of the mother – except by an optional rider paid
for by an additional premium.
“A person desiring to have an abortion, their insurance would not
just automatically cover it,” McGill said in a telephone interview
recently. “It would have to be premeditated. That would prevent
girls from just simply rushing out and not having time to think
about the situation.”
A similar bill passed the state Senate last year but the House
didn’t take action before the session’s end.
McGill said the bill is “relatively simple” and actually wouldn’t
apply if a bill that defines a “person” as being created at the
moment of fertilization becomes law. State Sen. Phil Williams,
R-Rainbow City, will be introducing that bill.
“I actually hope that it [SB 20] will be rendered useless assuming
we pass Phil Williams’ bill,” McGill said.
At a legislative prayer breakfast on Monday, McGill urged citizens
to support pro-life legislation.
“I encourage every one of you – you don’t have to call your
senator, those of you that’s from DeKalb County, but you do need to
call other senators and representatives that oppose the pro-life
bill. In my opinion, you do, and help us to get these pro-life
bills passed.
“We passed seven through the Senate last year – all seven that were
offered, we passed it – but only one made it through the House. So,
contact your representatives and make sure they’re planning on
voting for pro-life bills.”
The Legislature reconvenes on Feb. 7, with Gov. Robert Bentley
making his State of the State speech that night.
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