Insurance companies in Oregon would be required to cover abortions and other reproductive services at no cost to the patient regardless of income, citizenship status or gender identity under a measure approved Wednesday by lawmakers. The measure, which does offer some religious-based exemptions, comes as the federal government and other states are seeking restrictions on abortion services. President Donald Trump earlier this year signed legislation allowing states to withhold federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The Democratic-controlled Oregon Senate approved the measure in a 17-13 vote along party lines. The bill would also allocate almost $500,000 over the next two years to expand cost-free reproductive health coverage, including abortions, to immigrants who are otherwise ineligible for Medicaid.

Source: Fox News July 06, 2017 00:53 UTC