MEDIA RELEASE
FEBRUARY 25, 2007
CONTACT: DAVID
BROWNLOW, EX. DIR
(503) 307-3851
LIFE
SUPPORT
Opposes
HB 2700
Clackamas,
OR – LIFE SUPPORT OPPOSES HB 2700 (a bill that would require insurers
to cover prescription contraceptives, some which are abortafacient, such
as the “emergency contraceptive/morning-after-pill”) because:
- Life
begins at conception and this bill would require insurance companies
to provide pills that kill. www.all.org/brthcnt.htm, www.morningafterpill.org/map2.htm)
- This
bill may violate individually-held religious beliefs of companies
who may be forced to choose to close their doors in order to avoid
providing a state-mandated benefit.
Elimination of medical coverage, and eventually medical care,
by faith-based or religiously-oriented organizations could lead to a
public health crisis, in addition to the taxpayer-funded litigation
that would follow.
- These
bills require insurance companies to provide drugs that are not
medically-necessary, but rather, a convenience.
- Requiring
insurance companies to pay for personal conveniences will increase
the cost of health insurance. For
a company employing 500 people, the new required convenience benefit
could cost the company and its employees over $10,000 per year,
which could lead to job elimination and less coverage for
medically-necessary treatment, such as prenatal care, mammograms and
childhood immunizations – each of which are far more important
than contraceptives.
- HB
2700 would require insurance companies to provide drugs that are
known to harm women (increased risk for acquiring blood clots,
chlamydial infections and breast cancer). (www.all.org/communique/cq941014.htm
- Mandating
insurance coverage for contraceptives will lead to mandating
insurance coverage for abortion, which will also violate religious
beliefs.
(Sources: http://www.all.org/brthcnt.htm,
http://www.all.org/communique/cq941014.htm and
www.morningafterpill.org/map2.htm).
Art Williams,
President, ProLifeInsurance.com, told LIFE SUPPORT: “Our
clients have overwhelmingly supported options that allow them to
purchase coverage from insurers that DO NOT pay for abortions.
Legislation that forces insurers to pay for abortions limits the
client’s options. It
could place people in a position to be forced to choose between adequate
health coverage for their family and standing up for values they hold
dear as Americans.”
Bob Ekstrom, Field
Director for LIFE SUPPORT said: “HB 2700 “ forces people of faith
to fund chemically-induced abortions, puts matters of personal
convenience and choice on the same level of as medically-necessary
treatment, requires coverage of drugs which can endanger the safety of
women, and increases insurance costs for employers and individuals.”
David Brownlow,
Executive Director of Life Support, says:
“HB 2700 is a piece of legislation that is promoted by the National
Abortion Rights League (NARAL), a group with an apparent pathological
desire to kill babies. No
self-respecting, pro-life legislator has any business supporting either
bill.”
-#-
LIFE
SUPPORT
No
Abortions – No Excuses
P.O.
Box 2965, Clackamas, OR 97015
(503)
307-3851 - dave@lifesupportoregon.org
- www.lifesupportoregon.org
