No Exemptions For Rape, Incest: Right To Life MI Looking To Prohibit Insurers From Providing Abortions

LANSING (WWJ) - Right to Life of Michigan has submitted 315,000 signatures on a petition to would prohibit insurers from including abortion coverage in their health insurance policies.

If the State Board of Canvassers approves the signatures, the legislature would have 40 days to decide whether to vote on the issue.

Meghan Groen of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan says the signatures only amount to about three-percent of the population.

"They are going to be hearing from their constituents from our supporters and voters that really believe that barring employers from covering abortions for rape victims, incest victims and women who face health risks is out of step with their constituents and not what the voters in Michigan want to see," said Groen.

Groen said that if this is something that is put before voters we are confident that they will say ,'no.'

She said it's important that people know that this proposal is a reach into private market place and personal health matters, and "there are no exemptions for rape, incest or the health of the woman ... if there is a situation where there is a woman who finds out that she has a severe health problem, she could be looking at losing a wanted pregnancy and then the additional thousands of dollars of hospital bills," Groen said.

"This is something that is absolutely about government overreaching into the private marketplace in decisions about pregnancy, that are quite frankly, personal."

There are strong anti-abortion majorities in both houses.