Locals Limit Taxpayer Funded Abortion

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Locals Limit Taxpayer Funded Abortion

Special Report - February 18, 2010
Wake County and the Town of Apex have removed coverage for elective abortions from their employee health insurance plans, after recognizing legal questions raised by a 1981 state Supreme Court ruling that a county “exceeded its statutorily conferred power in levying the tax involved in the funding of medically unnecessary abortions.” Apex’s town council unanimously approved the removal of elective abortion coverage from the town’s employee health insurance plan, which is self-funded with Blue Cross Blue Shield acting as administrator of the coverage, beginning February 1, 2010. Wake County Manager David Cooke authorized a similar elimination of elective abortion coverage for county employees on February 10. The Wake County Board of Commissioners has deadlocked on all efforts to approve or reverse the change. Until further action by the Board, Wake County’s health insurance policy for employees will not cover elective abortions. Both policies still cover the option of abortion in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

The Herald Sun newspaper in Durham reported February 16 that the N.C. League of Municipalities will change the standard health insurance policy that it obtains for 187 cities and towns around the state so as to not include coverage for elective abortions. Beginning July 1, 2010, cities and towns must “opt-in” to include elective abortions in their health plans.