Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 21 states in urging Congress to reject proposed restrictions on abortion coverage in state Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plans. The coalition sent a letter to congressional leaders, arguing that such restrictions would violate state sovereignty, conflict with existing laws, and threaten residents’ access to health care.
The coalition’s action comes as the ACA’s tax credits, which help make health care more affordable for millions of Americans, are set to expire at the end of the year. Without an extension, many families could face higher health care costs. Recent reports indicate that some Republican members of Congress want to condition support for extending these tax credits on a ban preventing all ACA insurance plans receiving federal credits from covering abortion services.
“This attempt to use essential abortion care as a bargaining chip to extend ACA tax credits shows a blatant disregard for the health and rights of millions of Americans,” Nessel said. “We’ve already seen the devastating consequences of gutting access to reproductive health care, and further restricting care would only make things worse. Congress must reject this latest concerted effort to interfere with personal medical decisions.”
All states in the coalition currently allow abortion coverage under their ACA insurance plans. The letter argues that prohibiting such coverage would create additional barriers and increase costs by removing the ability for people to use tax credits for comprehensive reproductive care.
The coalition also disputes claims that federal funds are used for abortion services. According to existing law in Michigan and other states, federal dollars cannot be used for these purposes; instead, enrollees pay separate fees if their plan covers abortion services.
In their letter, the attorneys general assert that states should maintain independence over their own health policy decisions within the framework established by the ACA.
Research cited by the coalition indicates that about one in four women will have an abortion during their lifetime and that these services can be lifesaving. Data from states with restricted abortion access after Roe v. Wade was overturned show increases in sepsis, infant deaths, and pregnancy-related deaths.
The proposal is described as part of ongoing efforts by some federal officials to limit reproductive health care access. Previous actions include attempts by the Trump Administration to defund Planned Parenthood—a move temporarily blocked following legal action led by Nessel and other attorneys general—and proposals affecting veterans’ access to abortion services at Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Nessel and her colleagues are calling on congressional leaders to uphold state authority over health policy and reject any measures limiting access to affordable reproductive health care.
Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington joined Nessel in signing the letter.