Anti-Abortion Groups, Employers Sue Pritzker Over Illinois Law

livewell
November 21, 2024
Noah Bennett

Various groups and employers who oppose abortion have sued state governor JB. Pritzker, and other officials in Illinois passed a law that requires health insurers in the state to provide free healthcare coverage for those seeking abortion. These anti-abortion groups are against the law that enforces free delivery of abortion medications and abortion services for users looking for these medical conditions.

Explanation

These groups sued the governor, the acting director of the Department of Insurance, and the Attorney General in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of the state. They are suing the governor and other officials for provisions in the Illinois reproductive health act that force state-approved health insurers to cover abortions and their related medications without charging any out-of-pocket costs to abortion-seekers.

The organizations and employers allege that the Pritzker abortion law has forced them to buy insurance for abortion and abortion-related products for their employees. It is against their ideological position, as they are against this procedure. They argue that all patients, including those against this medical practice, will pay for these costs through premiums as they are completely free.

The groups that sued the officials in Illinois are related to pro-life and religious organizations. These include the Pro-Life Action League, Illinois Right to Life, Students for Life of America, the Clapham School, the Midwest Bible Church, and DuPage Precision Products. Additionally, six local residents who work for organizations are also behind this case. These anti-abortion groups have filed the lawsuit through attorneys working for the Thomas More Society, a not-for-profit law firm.

Opinion in the Lawsuit

The lawsuit argues that Illinois abortion law has made it necessary for all employers or other related persons to apply for insurance services for abortions, whether they accept this condition or not. It is particularly stressful for religious anti-abortion groups, church authorities, and others who oppose this procedure on moral grounds because this law provides no exception to any group or organization in the state.

It adds that this unjustifiable law has also forced those residents of the state that oppose abortion to pay for the out-of-pocket costs of these beneficiaries through their premiums. They are not allowed to pay premiums on services they deem fit according to their religious and moral beliefs. They can either pay for the entire program or have to leave it entirely if they want to protect their religious beliefs.

Defense of the State

A spokesperson for the Illinois Governor Pritzker opposed this lawsuit through a statement in email, which says that this lawsuit is an extreme action that can increase risk for women who want to stop their pregnancies due to medical reasons.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul also expressed his frustration on this lawsuit through a statement that abortion is part of healthcare and depriving women of this lifesaving procedure has already taken numerous lives in the state and the entire nation. He added that he is committed to protecting reproductive rights alongside healthcare insurance for related procedures, including abortions.

This controversial law only applies to state-regulated health plans and does not cover other insurance plans. Many large employers offer self-funded insurance schemes, not funded by the state. However, the companies behind this lawsuit are small organizations and cannot afford self-funded insurance programs.