Maryland lawmaker pushes for insurance companies to use abortion funds

Obamacare stipulates that insurance carriers collect funds for abortion services. Much of it goes unused.

Legislators in Maryland are pushing a bill that would make abortion access more equitable and accessible in the state. 

Sen. Ariana B. Kelly sponsored legislation that would create additional funding for clinics across the state by making insurance carriers use built-up funds, which were collected for abortion care because of stipulations in the Affordable Care Act. Kelly found that nearly $90 million had been built up. 

“What we want to do is make sure that the money, instead of sitting in the bank and growing interest and increasing by about $3 million a year, is going for the purpose it was intended and is required to be used under federal law, which is ensuring access to abortion care,” Kelly said. 

The insurance carriers were neutral on the legislation. Kelly has talked to their executives to ensure the law complies with federal rules. The insurance companies want the money to go to provide care but not be spent by the clinics on other costs like security or advocacy. 

The Maryland Women’s Law Center has been lobbying for this bill, and the Baltimore Abortion Fund has also had its staff push for it. 

“It allows us to take lemons and turn it into lemonade,” Kelly said.