MAINE, USA — A new state law will prohibit some insurers from charging deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs for abortion services in Maine.
LD 935 took effect on Jan. 1 and applies to most Mainers with insurance they have purchased through their employer or the marketplace. Certain federal plans are exempt, but MaineCare is already covered.
The bill "prohibits a health plan with an effective date on or after January 1, 2024 from imposing any deductible, copayment, coinsurance or other cost-sharing requirement for the costs of abortion services," and was signed into law last year by Governor Janet Mills.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England spokesperson Lisa Newcomb told NEWS CENTER Maine those with questions regarding nuances around plans not regulated by the state are recommended to contact an insurance expert for clarity regarding specific coverage. Only insurance plans that Maine regulates are included in the new law.
Lisa Margulies, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England said in a news release the group is celebrating the law as a step forward for access to abortion services in the state as some Mainers struggle to afford to meet their deductibles. Planned Parenthood provides abortion services in Maine.
Last year, Mills signed a bill into law that expanded abortion access later in pregnancy, allowing abortions at any time if deemed medically necessary by a doctor, making the law one of the nation's least restrictive.