California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in urging congressional leaders not to tie the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits to additional abortion restrictions. The group sent a letter opposing reported efforts by Republican lawmakers to require a ban on abortion coverage in all state ACA insurance plans as a condition for extending the tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “The Republican attacks on reproductive healthcare show no signs of stopping. According to recent reports, Congressional Republicans are only willing to extend the ACA subsidies in exchange for harsher abortion restrictions. My fellow attorneys general and I are strongly opposed to such a deal, which would infringe on state sovereignty. Sixty-three percent of voters also agree that abortion access should be legal in all or most situations. By now, it should be clear as day that Congressional Republicans do not seriously care about addressing Trump’s affordability crisis. With only weeks until the ACA subsidies expire, the countdown is on — and the Republican Party will be to blame if healthcare premiums soar.”
The coalition argues that restricting abortion coverage through federal action would undermine state authority and jeopardize access to essential healthcare services for many residents. The ACA allows states flexibility regarding health plan offerings, including abortion services. Many coalition states either mandate or allow coverage for these services as part of their commitment to accessible healthcare.
Current law prohibits using federal premium tax credits for abortion services except in cases where the woman’s life is at risk or in instances of rape or incest. States offering plans with abortion coverage require enrollees to pay separate fees that cover these costs independently from federal funds.
Research indicates that one in four women will have an abortion during their lifetime, and limiting access may lead to negative health outcomes such as increased sepsis, infant mortality, and pregnancy-related deaths—trends observed after some states restricted access following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The coalition characterizes this proposal as another attempt by federal officials to restrict reproductive care nationwide and references previous actions by the Trump Administration aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood and limiting veterans’ access to abortion services at Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington joined Bonta in signing the letter.
