Illinois taxpayers, but not health care carriers, will pay for elective abortions in 2018

WASHINGTON DC – Taxpayers in Illinois will be paying for elective abortions for expectant mothers on Medicaid and employed by the state – but private companies in Illinois will not be offering the same coverage, a new study on Illinois programs said Wednesday. 

Family Research Council released a study of the health care coverage being offered throughout the states as they pertained to elective abortions. Here's what they and the Charlotte Lozier Institute found about Illinois' programs: 

Names of Insurance Carriers and Their Elective-Abortion Coverage:

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (12): No plans cover elective abortion (2018 plan documents).
2. Celtic Insurance Company (9): No plans cover elective abortion (2018 plan documents).
3. Cigna Healthcare of Illinois Inc. (5): No plans cover elective abortion (2018 plan documents).
4. Health Alliance Medical Plans Inc. (61): No plans cover elective abortion (2018 rep. communication).
5. *Highmark BCBSD Inc. (7): No plans cover elective abortion (2018 plan documents).

Summary:  There are a total of 5 insurance carriers being offered on the Illinois exchange in 2018.  Highmark is new to the Illinois marketplace in 2018 while Humana is the only insurance carrier to leave the Illinois marketplace. In 2017, all 61 plans did not cover elective abortion. In 2018, all 94 plans will not cover elective abortion, a 33 plan increase in insurance options.

While no plans cover elective abortion, Health Alliance does not provide information about their abortion coverage policy on their 2018 Summary of Benefits and Coverage documents, making it not in compliance.  It is only by representative communication that their abortion coverage is known.

While none of the plans in Illinois cover elective abortion, please bear in mind that taxpayers in your state are still paying federal taxes that are used to pay for coverage that includes elective abortion in other states. For example, an estimated 1.25 million Californians received federal taxpayer subsidies in 2014 and 96% of plans sold in California included abortion on demand. Between 2015 and 2024 an estimated $855 billion in federal subsidies will be used in every state to pay for Obamacare health plans, many of which include elective abortion.

For more about Illinois and other states, see "Abortion in Obamacare" HERE.