Senator Josh Hawley is advancing new legislation aimed at closing loopholes in Obamacare plans that currently allow coverage of abortion and gender-transition care for minors.
Under existing federal rules, the Hyde Amendment bans use of federal funds for elective abortions, but some ACA marketplace plans still offer abortion coverage through state-level provisions or separate funding mechanisms. Hawley’s bill would forbid any ACA plan—federally or state-subsidized—from covering abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk.
In addition to abortion, Hawley’s proposal would explicitly ban coverage of gender transition treatments (drugs or procedures) for minors under ACA plans. He argues that medical plans should not sanction irreversible interventions on children.
Hawley framed his move as part of the broader negotiations happening amid a government shutdown. With key deadlines approaching for ACA subsidy extensions, he says lawmakers have a responsibility to embed conservative reforms. “It’s time to ban abortion and gender transitions for minors on the healthcare exchanges,” he declared.
As the Senate debates reopening the government and extending Obamacare subsidies, Hawley’s plan will test whether Republicans use that leverage to enact structural changes—rather than just pass temporary fixes.
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