GAO investigates PPACA subsidies and abortion coverage: 3 things to know

Many health insurers have disregarded regulations meant to keep health insurance subsidies distributed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act from going toward abortions, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Here are three things to know about the GAO's investigation and findings.

1. Qualified health plans offered through the health insurance exchanges established under the PPACA are allowed to cover abortion services as a benefit in line with federal and state laws. However, for benefit year 2014, federal law prohibits the use of federal funds, or premium subsidies, used to help cover the cost of exchange plans to pay for abortions, unless the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest or the woman's life would be in danger unless she has an abortion.  

2. In response to a request from Republican House members (including Speaker John Boehner of Ohio), the GAO obtained information from 18 qualified health plan issuers offering nearly 25 percent of the exchange plans covering abortion services in the 28 states with no laws limiting the coverage of these services in circumstances other than rape, incest or endangerment of the mother's life. All but three of the insurers said their abortion coverage isn't subject to any restrictions, limitations or exclusions — including whether or not the enrollee has received a federal subsidy to help pay for their exchange plan.

3. After reviewing the GAO's findings, HHS stated "additional clarification may be needed" concerning the regulations meant to prevent federal subsidies from funding abortions. According to the GAO, CMS plans to use the findings "to address issues of concern to better ensure that stakeholders understand the laws and regulations governing the provision of non-excepted abortion services coverage."

 

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