Over a year ago, I remember hearing on the news several stories on the radio, and reading about them online, about states like Virginia, New York and Illinois passing laws permitting new and more horrifying levels of infanticide. For instance, in Illinois assault and battery law (see footnotes), they define an unborn child as anyone from embryo until birth. Killing one of these persons when assaulting a pregnant woman is considered “intentional homicide”. This is as it should be (keeping in mind that the definition they provide for abortion does not say anything about whether the mother’s life is in danger; if it were, that would obviously be a different topic entirely). However, they make an exception for abortions with parental consent, consistent with customary standards of medical practice. In my understanding, this means that the definition of “human” depends entirely on whether the person trying to kill you is an expert with your parent’s approval. I asked myself, "is this really as horrifying as it sounds, or is it just propaganda? Is someone misrepresenting these laws to make them sound worse than they really are?"
Unsure of whom to believe, I decided to find out for myself. After discovering that there are certain states which differentiate between types of abortions according to whether they are "elective", I found that Massachusetts, where my company health care was based, is a state that allows "elective abortions". On March 22, 2019, I called my insurance company to find out exactly how they handle this.
When the customer service representative picked up the phone, I asked him if there were any limitations on the coverage of "abortion services". I chose this terminology simply because that was the term I read on the company's website, and I wanted him to understand what I was talking about. He immediately corrected me. Their term was "pregnancy termination".
Before answering my question, he took down my information so he could look up my particular account, saying that the policy depended on the particular plan. He also put me on hold to go ask his manager something. About five minutes later, he returned to the phone. He informed me that my plan actually had no limitations on coverage whatsoever, and that, in fact, most plans do not have limits unless the group specifically requests to opt out. My group (my company) had never informed me of this before, nor had any representative of the health insurance company ever mentioned anything about elective abortions, pregnancy terminations, or any other euphemism for infanticide.
The customer service representative went on to inform me about all the details. He wanted to make sure I knew that they made every effort to provide their services with as little difficulty as possible. They even allow it to be billed two different ways: as a same-day walk-in, or as a specialist visit. I clarified that we were not planning on having an abortion, but I just needed to know the information. I then asked if they required a patient to give a reason, before they would agree to provide coverage. He said that they did not require any reason at all, and that they didn't even ask. I asked if a prior authorization form was required, and he said "no".
For a bit of perspective, I will say that this same health insurance provider covered the delivery of my first child a few years prior. There were stipulations and requirements to receiving coverage. We had to notify the insurance company several months in advance that we were pregnant. Despite this, we were initially denied coverage because the hospital had failed to send in a prior authorization form on our behalf. All of this was eventually resolved, but my point is this: it is more difficult to get insurance to cover the birth of a living child than to kill one. This is not a good incentive.
A few months later, I called my insurance company again to explain to them that, because of their policy on abortion, I was opting out of my company's insurance plan. This customer service representative asked me if I wanted to file a formal complaint. I declined, saying that I merely wanted someone in their organization to know why I made this decision, saying that they could still change their minds about covering abortion. I recognize that a customer service representative has little power to change her organization, but at least now I know that my actions are no mystery.
I know that, at least in the case which affects me directly, the truth is that there are no limitations on what will be funded. They don’t even ask for a reason. Therefore, I believe that the headlines are true, and that the outcry is not overstated in the least. If anything, it is understated; before all this, I thought surely there would be some barriers in place somewhere: ideally, that abortions would be limited only to cases where the mother would otherwise die, or at least that they would draw a line somewhere - maybe at a certain number of weeks into the pregnancy, or a certain stage of development. That, after all, is the main content of every debate I’ve ever heard on the matter. If people are debating when a fetus becomes a human, I thought surely they would have put a line somewhere. I never expected that health insurance companies would be allowed, or even mandated, to cover all abortions without exception.
I suspect that there are many other Christians who, like me a few years ago, simply do not realize the extent of the situation. For instance, I never before thought to look up just how many abortions happened each year in the US, compared to live births: it’s just under 200 killed for every 1000 living. And 41% nation wide are black (see footnotes). Then again, there are probably countless others who have been waiting patiently for me, having already realized this decades ago. Thank you for your patience.
My initial reaction to this was overwhelming grief. For a full year I awoke almost every morning… mourning. Then it was anger. I am meeting with my priest this week to discuss what it looks like to truly repent of that. And also how to live for Christ every day, fighting the good fight, opposing the forces of darkness that make all of this possible. But I’m posting all of this here because, well, it seemed to me that this was a more relevant place than, say, Facebook, and that this sort of forum would allow many voices (not just my friends) to weigh in, react, repent, offer ideas on how to practically oppose this in everyday life, and maybe even give advice on how to get on living normally (if such a thing is even right) in light of the ongoing holocaust.
I think it would be prudent for all Christians to, at the very least, call their health insurance providers and ask, "Under what circumstances will you deny coverage for abortion?" Maybe in your case, they will not have these kind of policies. Or maybe they will better-conceal them. In any case, it seems to me that every one of us is complicit. Guilty, yes! But we, unlike others, can acknowledge our sin and repent, because we know that there is no condemnation if we do. The atoning blood of Christ covers over our sins, and we have pardon from God. But whoever says he has no sin is a liar. We cannot ignore this almost 50-year holocaust, imagining that “the peace of God which passes understanding” can be contorted into an excuse for apathy or willful ignorance. We can take up our cross and follow Jesus. Please call your own insurance company and find out the truth as soon as possible.
————————————
Footnotes
from Illinois Law regarding Assault and Battery, 720 ILCS 5/9-1.2
Sec. 9-1.2. Intentional homicide of an unborn child.
…”unborn child" shall mean any individual of the human species from the implantation of an embryo until birth…
This Section shall not apply to acts which cause the death of an unborn child if those acts were committed during any abortion, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Reproductive Health Act, to which the pregnant individual has consented. This Section shall not apply to acts which were committed pursuant to usual and customary standards of medical practice during diagnostic testing or therapeutic treatment.
from the Reproductive Health Act (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/101/SB/PDF/10100SB0025enr.pdf)
Section 1-10. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Abortion" means the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device to terminate the pregnancy of an individual known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus.
from the CDC:
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2016
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2016
Unsure of whom to believe, I decided to find out for myself. After discovering that there are certain states which differentiate between types of abortions according to whether they are "elective", I found that Massachusetts, where my company health care was based, is a state that allows "elective abortions". On March 22, 2019, I called my insurance company to find out exactly how they handle this.
When the customer service representative picked up the phone, I asked him if there were any limitations on the coverage of "abortion services". I chose this terminology simply because that was the term I read on the company's website, and I wanted him to understand what I was talking about. He immediately corrected me. Their term was "pregnancy termination".
Before answering my question, he took down my information so he could look up my particular account, saying that the policy depended on the particular plan. He also put me on hold to go ask his manager something. About five minutes later, he returned to the phone. He informed me that my plan actually had no limitations on coverage whatsoever, and that, in fact, most plans do not have limits unless the group specifically requests to opt out. My group (my company) had never informed me of this before, nor had any representative of the health insurance company ever mentioned anything about elective abortions, pregnancy terminations, or any other euphemism for infanticide.
The customer service representative went on to inform me about all the details. He wanted to make sure I knew that they made every effort to provide their services with as little difficulty as possible. They even allow it to be billed two different ways: as a same-day walk-in, or as a specialist visit. I clarified that we were not planning on having an abortion, but I just needed to know the information. I then asked if they required a patient to give a reason, before they would agree to provide coverage. He said that they did not require any reason at all, and that they didn't even ask. I asked if a prior authorization form was required, and he said "no".
For a bit of perspective, I will say that this same health insurance provider covered the delivery of my first child a few years prior. There were stipulations and requirements to receiving coverage. We had to notify the insurance company several months in advance that we were pregnant. Despite this, we were initially denied coverage because the hospital had failed to send in a prior authorization form on our behalf. All of this was eventually resolved, but my point is this: it is more difficult to get insurance to cover the birth of a living child than to kill one. This is not a good incentive.
A few months later, I called my insurance company again to explain to them that, because of their policy on abortion, I was opting out of my company's insurance plan. This customer service representative asked me if I wanted to file a formal complaint. I declined, saying that I merely wanted someone in their organization to know why I made this decision, saying that they could still change their minds about covering abortion. I recognize that a customer service representative has little power to change her organization, but at least now I know that my actions are no mystery.
I know that, at least in the case which affects me directly, the truth is that there are no limitations on what will be funded. They don’t even ask for a reason. Therefore, I believe that the headlines are true, and that the outcry is not overstated in the least. If anything, it is understated; before all this, I thought surely there would be some barriers in place somewhere: ideally, that abortions would be limited only to cases where the mother would otherwise die, or at least that they would draw a line somewhere - maybe at a certain number of weeks into the pregnancy, or a certain stage of development. That, after all, is the main content of every debate I’ve ever heard on the matter. If people are debating when a fetus becomes a human, I thought surely they would have put a line somewhere. I never expected that health insurance companies would be allowed, or even mandated, to cover all abortions without exception.
I suspect that there are many other Christians who, like me a few years ago, simply do not realize the extent of the situation. For instance, I never before thought to look up just how many abortions happened each year in the US, compared to live births: it’s just under 200 killed for every 1000 living. And 41% nation wide are black (see footnotes). Then again, there are probably countless others who have been waiting patiently for me, having already realized this decades ago. Thank you for your patience.
My initial reaction to this was overwhelming grief. For a full year I awoke almost every morning… mourning. Then it was anger. I am meeting with my priest this week to discuss what it looks like to truly repent of that. And also how to live for Christ every day, fighting the good fight, opposing the forces of darkness that make all of this possible. But I’m posting all of this here because, well, it seemed to me that this was a more relevant place than, say, Facebook, and that this sort of forum would allow many voices (not just my friends) to weigh in, react, repent, offer ideas on how to practically oppose this in everyday life, and maybe even give advice on how to get on living normally (if such a thing is even right) in light of the ongoing holocaust.
I think it would be prudent for all Christians to, at the very least, call their health insurance providers and ask, "Under what circumstances will you deny coverage for abortion?" Maybe in your case, they will not have these kind of policies. Or maybe they will better-conceal them. In any case, it seems to me that every one of us is complicit. Guilty, yes! But we, unlike others, can acknowledge our sin and repent, because we know that there is no condemnation if we do. The atoning blood of Christ covers over our sins, and we have pardon from God. But whoever says he has no sin is a liar. We cannot ignore this almost 50-year holocaust, imagining that “the peace of God which passes understanding” can be contorted into an excuse for apathy or willful ignorance. We can take up our cross and follow Jesus. Please call your own insurance company and find out the truth as soon as possible.
————————————
Footnotes
from Illinois Law regarding Assault and Battery, 720 ILCS 5/9-1.2
Sec. 9-1.2. Intentional homicide of an unborn child.
…”unborn child" shall mean any individual of the human species from the implantation of an embryo until birth…
This Section shall not apply to acts which cause the death of an unborn child if those acts were committed during any abortion, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Reproductive Health Act, to which the pregnant individual has consented. This Section shall not apply to acts which were committed pursuant to usual and customary standards of medical practice during diagnostic testing or therapeutic treatment.
from the Reproductive Health Act (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/101/SB/PDF/10100SB0025enr.pdf)
Section 1-10. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Abortion" means the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device to terminate the pregnancy of an individual known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus.
from the CDC:
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2016
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2016
