A BILL 
To ensure affordable abortion coverage and care for every 
woman, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Equal Access to Abor-
tion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act 
of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Affordable, comprehensive health insurance 
that includes coverage for a full range of pregnancy- 
related care, including abortion, is critical to the 
health of every woman. 
(2) Neither a woman’s income level nor her 
type of insurance should prevent her from having ac-
cess to a full range of pregnancy-related care, in-
cluding abortion services. 
(3) No woman should have the decision to have, 
or not to have, an abortion made for her based on 
her ability or inability to afford the procedure. 
(4) Since 1976, the Federal Government has 
withheld funds for abortion coverage in most cir-
cumstances. As a 2013 analysis by the Guttmacher 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
07:09 Jul 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2972.IH
H2972
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Institute shows, this affects women of reproductive 
age in the United States who are insured through 
the Medicaid program, as well as women who receive 
insurance or care through other Federal health plans 
and programs. 
(5) Moreover, 25 States also prohibit abortion 
coverage in private insurance plans within or beyond 
health insurance marketplaces under the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to an 
analysis of State policies by the Guttmacher Insti-
tute. 
(6) A report by the Center for Reproductive 
Rights details how restrictions on abortion coverage 
interfere with a woman’s personal decisionmaking, 
with her health and well-being, and with her con-
stitutionally protected right to a safe and legal med-
ical procedure. 
(7) Restrictions on abortion coverage have a 
disproportionate impact on low-income women, 
women of color, immigrant women, and young 
women, according to reports by both the Center for 
American Progress and the Guttmacher Institute. 
Also according to the reports, these women are al-
ready disadvantaged in their access to the resources, 
information, and services necessary to prevent an 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
07:09 Jul 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2972.IH
H2972
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
unintended pregnancy or to carry a healthy preg-
nancy to term. 
SEC. 3. ABORTION COVERAGE AND CARE REGARDLESS OF 
INCOME OR SOURCE OF INSURANCE. 
(a) ENSURING ABORTION COVERAGE
AND CARE 
THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ITS ROLE AS 
AN
INSURER, EMPLOYER, OR
HEALTH
CARE
PRO-
VIDER.—The Federal Government shall— 
(1) ensure coverage for abortion care in public 
health insurance programs including Medicaid, 
Medicare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Pro-
gram; 
(2) in its role as an employer or health plan 
sponsor, ensure coverage for abortion care for par-
ticipants and beneficiaries; and 
(3) in its role as a provider of health services, 
ensure abortion care is made available to individuals 
who are eligible to receive services in its own facili-
ties or in facilities with which it contracts to provide 
medical care. 
(b) PROHIBITING RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE INSUR-
ANCE COVERAGE OF ABORTION CARE.— 
(1) FEDERAL
RESTRICTIONS.—The Federal 
Government shall not prohibit, restrict, or otherwise 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
07:09 Jul 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2972.IH
H2972
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
inhibit insurance coverage of abortion care by State 
or local government or by private health plans. 
(2) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRIC-
TIONS.—State and local governments shall not pro-
hibit, restrict, or otherwise inhibit insurance cov-
erage of abortion care by private health plans. 
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) the Federal Government, acting in its ca-
pacity as an insurer, employer, or health care pro-
vider, should serve as a model for the Nation to en-
sure coverage of abortion care; and 
(2) moreover, restrictions on coverage of abor-
tion care in the private insurance market must end. 
SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to have any 
effect on any Federal, State, or local law that includes 
more protections for abortion coverage or care than those 
set forth in this Act. 
SEC. 6. SEVERABILITY. 
If any portion of this Act or the application thereof 
to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such inva-
lidity shall not affect the portions or applications of this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
07:09 Jul 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2972.IH
H2972
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Act which can be given effect without the invalid portion 
or application. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
07:09 Jul 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2972.IH
H2972
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS