Dive Brief:
- California has reversed a decision that allowed two Catholic schools — Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount universities — to deny health insurance coverage to employees for most abortions.
- The state's Department of Managed Care has ruled that abortion is a basic health care service, and that discriminating against women who choose abortion violates the state’s constitution, so it must be covered.
- Faculty at both universities had protested when the schools had announced that they planned to deny coverage for abortions that weren’t needed to save a woman’s life or prevent serious health problems, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Dive Insight:
Both Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount have more than 1,000 employees. Loyola’s policy was implemented in January; Santa Clara’s was to start next year. After the faculty protests, Loyola allowed employees to pay for private healthcare insurance to cover abortions. Federal health insurance law does not require coverage for abortions.