NJ Bill Would Help Women Pay For Abortions, Planned Parenthood Says

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey residents are already guaranteed the right to an abortion under state law. But a new bill launched by a pair of Democratic lawmakers from Essex County would make sure they can afford one, advocates say.

On Monday, the New Jersey State Assembly introduced A4350, which would increase access to “reproductive health care” and carve out $20 million in state funding for the effort.

The proposed law would require health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover abortions with no cost-sharing or out-of-pocket expenses. A health insurer could grant an exclusion if the coverage conflicts with an employer’s “bona fide religious beliefs and practices.”

In addition, any state program that provides benefits for pregnancy-related care would also have to provide benefits for abortions.

The bill, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (District 27) and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (District 29), has picked up a hearty endorsement from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ).

“We encourage our legislators to address all of the very real gaps in access to abortion care that many New Jerseyans face,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, the group’s vice president of public affairs.

“A right that cannot be exercised isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” Wojtowicz said. “Every New Jerseyean – regardless of where they live, their income, or immigration or insurance status – must have the resources and access to make their own decisions about birth control, prenatal care and abortion with dignity.”

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee for further review.

The concept of requiring health insurance companies to cover abortions saw support from Gov. Murphy in May. As part of a call to action, Murphy proposed that the state establish a Reproductive Health Access Fund, which would expand the number of health care providers with abortion training, provide security grants to at-risk sites and allocate money to facilities that provide reproductive-health services to uninsured and underinsured patients.

• See related article: Abortion Fully Covered By Insurance In Gov. Murphy's Proposed Laws

New Jersey’s latest abortion bill was introduced as the nation awaits a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion across the country nearly 50 years ago. If the court overturns the decision, it would leave it up to states to decide the future of abortion within their own borders.

In New Jersey, abortion access is protected by state law via the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed earlier this year. The bill passed the New Jersey Senate 23-15 and cleared the Assembly 46-22, with abstentions from five Democrats and three Republicans.

• See related article: NJ Abortion Law Sees Fierce Controversy; Here's What It Will Do

Under state law, the "fundamental right of reproductive autonomy" is guaranteed in New Jersey. All qualified health care professionals are allowed to carry out abortions, including advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and certified midwives, who were cleared to perform "early aspiration terminations of pregnancy" under new state regulations issued in December.

The law fell short of what some advocates had demanded, however, and doesn't include a proposal that would have required health insurance companies to cover abortions and birth control at no cost, out-of-pocket.

• See related article: Abortion Access Would Remain In New Jersey If Roe v. Wade Overturned

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