Universal Health Insurance & Abortion:

[Aquila]

As everyone knows a hot debate is raging in our country regarding universal health insurance. Most conservatives fear Obama’s plan will lead to an entirely socialized health insurance system like that found in Canada and Europe. We have read discussions about the pros and cons of universal health insurance from many different angles. However, there is one possible effect of universal health insurance that I’ve not seen discussed, the effect of universal health insurance on the abortion industry.

Today the abortion industry thrives in private health care in the United States. Seeing that it is legal it goes relatively unregulated and unrecorded. However, in Ireland (where they have universal health insurance) abortion is strictly regulated in that it is permitted only if the pregnancy is a clear and present danger to the mother. Seeing that public funding fuels the Irish health care system elective procedures (such as abortion) are an issue of public funding and policy.

In the United States public funding for abortion services and agencies that offer abortion services are often denied funding under Pro-Life Presidents. However, the private industry still flourishes slaughtering nearly multiplied hundreds of thousands of unborn children a year. If the United States were to adopt a universal health insurance program using public funding all abortion services would be subject to a President’s decision to deny funding to health care facilities nationally. Therefore if any hospital or clinic offered abortion services, they could be denied the public funding they receive from the public health insurance system. In order to maintain funding from the public health insurance program all hospitals and clinics would cease to offer abortion services. Those clinics providing only abortion services would loose all funding and be put out of business overnight.

The power of public policy regarding abortion is one strategic way Irish Pro-Life Catholics have been able to maintain a pro-life culture in Ireland.

Imagine a prolife President under a universal public health insurance program issuing an executive order to deny funding or payment to any medical office, facility, or practitioner who provides abortion services. Access to abortion from coast to coast could be greatly restricted in 24 hours.

Thoughts?