USA: Anti-abortion campaigners turn on student insurance

A battle has broken out over abortion coverage in student insurance plans at the University of North Carolina. 

Robin Marty, writing on RH Reality Check, gives a round-up of the row:

‘At the center of the battle was the school’s mandate that all students must be covered by some form of medical insurance - a rule that occurs at most public and private universities.  Should the student not have insurance, either their own personal policy of coverage via their parents’ policies, they would be required to purchase insurance through the school at a cost of about $350 or $375 per semester, or $700 to $750 a year.

‘Most people would be excited to have such affordable insurance with the skyrocketing costs of healthcare.  Students, especially, rely on preventive healthcare to keep serious illness at bay, when complications could not only cost them lost time in the classroom but also lost money on tuition.

‘But the anti-choice students on campus discovered that among the many benefits being provided in their affordable plans was one they simply could not accept - coverage for elective abortions...’

Read the full article here:

Student Insurance and Abortion: A Battle at University of North Carolina, by Robin Marty. RH Reality Check, 18 August 2010