RPA Does Not Cover Abortions in their Health Insurance Plan (UPDATE)
As the Republican National Convention (RNC) deals with the embarrassment of discovering that their employees’ health insurance plan covers elective abortions, the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA) confirms that they do not offer such coverage.
Politico broke the story yesterday that the RNC’s current health insurance plan through Cigna, which has been in place since 1991 covers elective abortions. This provision is in direct contradiction to the Republican Party Platform, which calls for a Human Life Amendment banning abortion in the United States. In addition, Republicans are insisting that any federal health care legislation specifically exclude elective abortion coverage from any plan receiving federal subsidies
However, RPA executive director Chase Dugger confirms to the Tolbert Report tonight that the Arkansas party does not provide this coverage to its employees. According to Dugger, the RPA provides its employees with a fixed stipend each month for them to purchase their own policy but does not directly provide a group health insurance plan.
Duggar said that he believes the RNC was caught off guard by this and anticipates that measures will be taken to correct it. In a letter to the RNC members, RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay said that the RNC is conducting a review of their employee insurance policy and will be updating members on the steps they are taking to address the issue.
UPDATE - It looks like the RNC will be canceling that coverage soon.
“Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose,” said RNC Chairman Michaal Steele in a statement late Thursday. “I don’t know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled.”
November 12th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Good to know. The RNC is in deep doo-doo.
Huge side note: Are you following developments in NY-23?! http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/11/democrats-stole-ny23-owns-going-down-as-absentee-is-counted-and-ilegal-democrat-voter-fraud.html
November 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am
JS – Yes, I heard about the NY-23 but the Hoffman campaign sent me an email saying they do not believe the outcome will change.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Bummer.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I think a more important question to ask but I guess we will ever know is if the coverage has ever been used.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
w – I would think that medical privacy laws would prevent anyone from knowing that
JS – You will be interested to know that Hoffman sent out another email this afternoon saying they are requesting a recount and that the margin is much closer than they thought.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Jason, I know for a fact that medical privacy laws would prevent that. I was just making a point that the fact that it was in a insurance package did not mean that anyone had taken advantage of it. From what I understand the party has change the coverage at this point. I just get frustrated with people jumping on the party. This party has no unity and that is part of why we do not do well at the polls in Arkansas and part of our prople nationally. If it were no for Obama we would not be rebounding. If Hillary had own, she is a better politican, we might no be so luck. This party needs to learn and learn quckly how to bring it many factions together. If everyone has to be as consrvitive as you or as moderate as I then we are in real trouble and domed to minority status. That doesnt mean liberalizing the party but it does mean supporting the most electable candidate and building on that.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
w – I agree with you most of the time but if a penny of RNC money was used for abortions then that is just flat out wrong and I will point out when something is wrong no matter the party.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Jason, I think you should point out when something is wrong. What I am trying to say is that we will never know if it was though I wish we could, I dont want to know who but it would be nice to know if that portion of the policy was ever used. If we are sure it is no longer part of the policy then we just have to move on. I am curious about who oked that when the policy was bought. I am assuming it was before the current chair? Do you happen to know who appoved the policy? My comments on unity were not tied to abortion, for me personally it is a test. To date and in the future I cannot see voting for a candidate who supports abortion rights. (I guess I should say that in a race where both the Republican and the Democrat supported abortion I would have to make a choice and might hold my nose and vote Republican, i can promise you I would not throw my vote away on a 3rd party candidate unless the Republican was Jim Holt)
November 14th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
w – It went into effect in 1991 when Lee Atwater was RNC Chairman. If it had not been for Politico calling them out publicly it would probably still be in effect today. Although sometimes painful, blogs are good.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Jason, thanks for the info I found it very interesting. My wife and I deal with a lot of insurance policies because of our business. Most people have no idea what is in those policies.