According to the article “House Approves More Abortion Legislation” found on Chronicle.Augusta.com, health insurance companies will have to cover abortions only if people purchase a separate premium for the procedure for South Carolina health insurance.  This is under a new bill passed last month in the South Carolina House.  This could affect the way a PPO insurance quote is given.

The bill was passed 69 to 41 and plans to also protect the jobs of physicians who refuse to perform abortions because of their personal beliefs.  This provision is part of a new bill exempting the state of South Carolina from having to provide abortion coverage in state-based health insurance exchanges that are going to be formed under health care reform.

There is some backlash against the decision because democrats point out that women do not know if they are going to be faced with such a decision beforehand so purchasing a separate policy would be hard to do.  This is especially true in the case of rape or incest.  Their attempts to exempt these extreme cases were turned down by the GOP majority which says the abortion bill is its priority.  Opponents say if the separate premiums becomes a law, health insurance companies likely will not offer up the coverage and women won’t know to ask for it.