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Abortion Subsidies Spark Protest; UHS Defends Funding

Op-ed reveals little-known fact to campus

Kanawhana Solutions, the company thatadministrates the Metlife Insurance Company,offers health care plans for individuals thatprovide women with abortions, if the procedure isrecommended by a physician. Employers oruniversities that offer group plans decide theirabortion policies independently.

An officer of Kanawhana says in determiningwhat group plan to offer, companies must considerthe theory of large numbers, varying interests,needs and requirements.

"An attempt to design a health care planacceptable to every vocal group would result inutter chaos," the officer says.

Under its individual plan, if a pregnancy doesnot endanger a woman's health, Kanawhana will notsubsidize an abortion. The officer says this is a"general rule" among insurance companies'individual plans.

"A health plan is developed for healthproblems," the officer says. "This does not applyto any elective procedures."

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But College administrators disagree.

Epps says UHS's health care plan offerschoices, not hard and fast rules.

"The student should be able to make an informedchoice," he says. "We should not be making thedecision for them."

Thompson says she believes UHS's abortionsubsidy and its proviso offering refunds to thosewho are anti-abortion provides students with abalance.

"UHS's policy gives everyone a choice," shesays. "The difference is that only thoseinterested in finding out about UHS's procedureswill know what those options are."

Although Ocon recommends that pregnant mothersdo anything in their power to prevent having anabortion, she too advocates the inclusion of anabortion option in UHS's health care plan.

"I lean towards a pro-choice stance, intheory," she says. "I would never supportlegislation taking away the choice, and I mostdefinitely think it should be kept as an optionfor students here."

But for McShea, the objection remains even if aphysician recommends the procedure.

"In either case, you would be killing a humanbeing," McShea says. "You can't simply choose oneof them over the other."

McShea advises others opposed to UHS's policiesto follow her example.

"Maybe the steps I am taking with e-mail andposters are small, but they are all that I can doright now to reach my ideal goal--removingabortion from UHS's health care plan," she says.

"Abortion is my issue. If you have anotherproblem with what is going on, then you need totake up the issue yourself.

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