New poll shows strong support for abortion, insurance coverage bill
For Immediate Release: May 6, 2019 (Updated: May 6, 2019, 7:42 p.m.)
⅔ of Mainers support legislation to guarantee insurance coverage of abortion
Despite the polarizing rhetoric about abortion, Mainers are overwhelmingly supportive of abortion rights and proposed legislation to increase access to abortion, according to a new poll by Lincoln Park Strategies of 500 registered Maine voters.
More than three in four Mainers (76%) believe women should be able to make their own medical decisions about abortion without politicians and insurance companies denying care. Indeed, more than seven in ten Mainers believe politicians should not be allowed to deny a woman’s health coverage for abortion just because she’s poor (74%), and that it’s vital a woman is able to consider all her options--including abortion--no matter what type of health insurance she has (72%).
Two-thirds of Maine voters (66%) support efforts in the state legislature to make sure all pregnancy-related care, including abortion care, is covered by insurance.
“We may have varying views on abortion, but no matter our personal feelings we believe it’s not our place to make decisions for someone else,” said Nicole Clegg, Vice President of Public Policy for the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. “Mainers want women to be treated with dignity and strongly believe the experience for someone obtaining an abortion should be affordable, without added burdens, and covered by insurance, which is what LD 820 will do.”
LD 820 sponsored by Representative Jay McCreight of Harpswell requires public and private insurance companies that cover prenatal care to cover abortion care as well.
A majority of voters say that if a woman has decided to have an abortion the experience should be supportive (83%), affordable (79%), available in her community (79%), without added burdens (76%), and covered by her insurance (70%).
The full polling memo for Lincoln Park Strategies is available here.