RNC Insurance Plan Covers Abortion

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee's health insurance plan covers elective abortions for its employees, an option Republicans strongly oppose in health overhaul legislation that Democrats are trying to push through Congress.

Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele learned of the policy's abortion coverage Thursday through a news report and immediately instructed staff to inform the insurance carrier that the RNC wanted to opt out of elective abortion coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," Steele said in a statement. "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

Gitcho said the policy has been in effect since 1991.

A memo earlier from RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay to the organization's members said Steele was taking the issue very seriously and "has been engaged by phone on this issue."

The GOP platform traditionally includes strong anti-abortion language. All House Republicans, except one, voted for an amendment imposing restrictions of coverage for abortions in the health care bill that passed the House last Saturday. Inclusion of the abortion restrictions prompted an angry backlash from liberal House Democrats, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.

The memo said the RNC received a phone call from a reporter on Wednesday asking whether the RNC's health care policy, through Cigna, covered elective abortions for employees. On Thursday, Politico.com published a report citing two sales agents for Cigna who said the RNC's policy covered elective abortion.

The Cigna employees said the RNC didn't choose to opt out of abortion coverage when given the opportunity, Politico.com reported.

"Upon learning of this story, at the chairman's direction, we immediately contacted the Executive Committee," the RNC memo said. "We will be scheduling a call with the Executive Committee in the immediate future to discuss this matter more fully."

The memo said the RNC health insurance policy has been in review for some time.

"Chairman Steele had already called for an official review of our health insurance policy along with a number of other operational items," the memo said.

Comments

[dfranz]

01:15 PM on 11/14/2009

Play that base like a Banjo...... Steele.

Kind of like "Deliverance

[glesslib]

12:21 PM on 11/14/2009

I, for one, am looking forward to hearing what the Catholic Bishops have to say about all this. After 30 years of abortion beign the reason that they've pushed the Republican Party line to parishioners, I'll be interested to hear what they have to say about all this. Will they tell Republican employees not to present themselves for Holy Communion, as they did with Joe Biden and other Catholic senators who were pro-choice? Will they get up in pulpits across the nation and denounce this hypocrisy for what it is? I'm going to go out on a limb and say no. There will be some extenuating circumstance that makes this all okay....or it will just be ignored. Hypocrisy doesn't end with the GOP.

[carljr]

10:21 AM on 11/14/2009

Gee, the GOP reducing health care benefits....should I find that surprising?

[ShinjiIkari]

07:59 AM on 11/14/2009

We were for it before we were against it!

I'm sure they especially loved the abortion option at the C Street Sugar Shack.

[opprobrious]

03:26 AM on 11/14/2009

Shouldn't the RNC not only opt out but, instead, actually switchto an insurance company that doesn't cover abortions in any of its policys? In fact, shouldn't they also have to stop doing business with any third-party that provides such insurance to members of their organization? Isn't that the whole point of the Stupak-Pitts amendment? Where's the purity?

[carljr]

10:22 AM on 11/14/2009

Better comment than mine --- touche!!

[klondiker]

03:44 PM on 11/14/2009

Bingo.

[elmikeo]

01:36 AM on 11/14/2009

This is just ridiculous, how can they expect us to believe in the this crap?
Mike- Globe Insurance.

[chitown8]

12:54 AM on 11/14/2009

How would the Senators wives every paid for their little secret.

[bluejoni2525]

12:23 AM on 11/14/2009

OOPS caught being HYPOCRITES again !!!!

[clearlythinking]

11:38 PM on 11/13/2009

I wonder how many abortions have been performed under this policy.

[Talossa]

10:12 AM on 11/14/2009

If only someone at Cigna could leak that information.

[thepoliticalcat]

10:17 PM on 11/13/2009

Michael Steele's administration? Who does he think he is, the President? The RNC doesn't even allow him to sign checks, much less fire anyone in his "administration."

[clearlythinking]

11:41 PM on 11/13/2009

Yes, he does think he's president.

[thepoliticalcat]

10:16 PM on 11/13/2009

Another day, another story on Republican't hypocrisy. It's almost getting to be too much, except for the LOL factor.

[Vere15]

09:11 PM on 11/13/2009

What was considered a valid reason for Republican abortions.

Could it apply when the other partner is a democrat, black or Hispanic.

Or did the woman fail to wear a hat or remain silent during the conception process

Did the conception take place during a campaign whistle stop in a blue state or in the middle of their candidates speech.

One has to wonder given the declarations already for non-valid reasons

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

09:11 PM on 11/13/2009

Ah, yes, Michael Steele. The gift that keeps on giving. The Progressive's best friend.
Hey Michael, how's Rushbo? Talk to him lately? Apologize to him lately?

[fairplaystacy]

06:47 PM on 11/13/2009

This should purge a lot of younger women from associating/working for the RNC - and the same way lions like to hang around zebras, I'm sure one day the men in the RNC will one day quietly reverse this when they find themselves in the midst of too few attractive young women.

Most of the people who support RNC/GOP anti-abortion stance are men or older women who have progressed beyond their reproductive viability.

Let's face it, for some of these guy, it's going to be tough to get dates now - there will be blowback.

[MaggieNYS]

06:38 PM on 11/13/2009

As usual, the republicans want for themselves what they don't want for the rest of us. HYPOCRITES!