UPDATE::Democrats Fight To Repeal Michigan's New 'Rape Insurance' Law | ThinkProgress

This story UPDATED
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A group of Michigan lawmakers have introduced a measure to roll back a controversial abortion restriction that went into effect this past spring. The new law requires women in the state to purchase a separate insurance policy for abortion coverage, even in cases of rape or incest.

The measure has been widely derided as “rape insurance,” since it essentially forces victims of sexual assault to pay out-of-pocket for an abortion procedure unless they thought ahead and purchased a separate insurance rider. During the legislative fight over the bill, State Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D) disclosed her own experience with sexual assault to explain why she was opposed to the proposed law. Now, Whitmer continues to fight back.

“This law hurts all women,” Whitmer said at a press conference this week to announce the repeal effort, which she is spearheading. “Not just women who are victims of incest or rape, or who experience the gut-wrenching effect of a miscarriage, but every single woman or man who has to make the decision about whether or not to pre-purchase abortion rider insurance for the women who are covered by their insurance, including their daughters.”

Whitmer also called the law “one of the most misogynistic laws I’ve ever seen.”

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The lawmakers who introduced the repeal effort acknowledged that it’s unlikely they’ll succeed in the Michigan legislature, which is dominated by abortion opponents. Indeed, now that they’ve successfully restricted women’s abortion coverage, conservative lawmakers continue to introduce other stringent anti-choice measures. Earlier this month, a group of 16 male politicians introduced a radical “heartbeat” measure that would criminalize nearly all abortions.

Democrats Fight To Repeal Michigan's New 'Rape Insurance' Law | ThinkProgress

Women In Michigan Will Now Have To Decide If They Might Be Raped When Buying Health Insurance | The New Civil Rights Movement

Is it just me or did this little tidbit get swept under the rug,,,

Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate just passed a bill that will force women to decide whether or not they think they might be raped when buying health insurance. The so-called “rape insurance” legislation prohibits all public and most private insurance plans from paying for any abortions, unless the woman has previously and specifically before becoming pregnant bought additional coverage, known as a “rider.”

The law becomes effective 90 days after the legislative session ends, and was crafted as a “citizens initiative” to not require the governor’s signature, after he vetoed similar legislation last year. “I don’t believe it is appropriate to tell a woman who becomes pregnant due to a rape that she needed to select elective insurance coverage, and, as a practical matter, I believe this type of policy is an overreach of government into the private market,” conservative Republican governor Rick Snyder had said last year upon announcing his veto.

Women In Michigan Will Now Have To Decide If They Might Be Raped When Buying Health Insurance | The New Civil Rights Movement