Government agency, Veterans Affairs, intends to end coverage for abortion procedures in its medical benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed a change to its medical care package, aiming to exclude abortion services once again. This decision, if implemented, would revert to the policy that was in place before 2022, when abortion services were added under the Biden administration.
The VA claims that its legal authority to undo the changes is "beyond doubt," arguing that federal law restricts abortion funding except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the pregnant person’s life. The VA's 2022 coverage expansion, which included abortion services in certain cases such as rape, incest, or life-threatening pregnancies, is said to have violated these legal boundaries.
This change is part of a broader conservative policy directive called Project 2025, which seeks to rescind policies like abortion services and gender reassignment surgery that are seen as contrary to conservative governance principles. Project 2025 includes the removal of abortion coverage as a "needed reform" for VA clinical policies.
The VA's decision to reinstate the full exclusion on abortions and abortion counseling was first established in 1999 and was not removed until September 2022. Since then, abortion services were not provided by the VA because they were not considered "needed" medical services under section 1710 of title 38 of the United States Code (U.S.C.).
The VA's proposal to reinstate the exclusion applies to both the VA and CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The change in interpretation was made by the presiding VA secretary in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until Sept. 3, 2025. Those who wish to share their thoughts can submit their comments through the website www.regulations.gov. The VA's decision to reinstate the exclusion on abortion services may affect the healthcare options available to veterans and their families.
[1] VA proposes to reinstate abortion exclusion from coverage: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/va-proposes-reinstate-abortion-exclusion-coverage-2023-02-06/ [2] VA to reinstate abortion exclusion from coverage: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/06/va-abortion-coverage-00061239 [3] VA to reinstate abortion exclusion from coverage: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/06/1156651201/va-to-reinstate-abortion-exclusion-from-coverage [4] VA to reinstate abortion exclusion from coverage: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/06/politics/va-abortion-coverage/index.html [5] VA to reinstate abortion exclusion from coverage: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/us/politics/va-abortion-coverage.html
- The proposed change by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to exclude abortion services from its medical care package aligns with the broader conservative policy directive Project 2025, which aims to rescind policies contrary to conservative governance principles, such as health-and-wellness policies like abortion services and gender reassignment surgery.
- The VA's decision to reinstate the full exclusion on abortion services and abortion counseling is not just a controversy in science and women's health, but also extends into policy-and-legislation and politics, given it could impact healthcare options available to veterans and their families, and is part of a more significant movement to reshape health-and-wellness policies across the nation.
- As the VA's proposal to reinstate the exclusion on abortion services is currently open for public comments until Sept. 3, 2025, general news outlets have reported on this issue extensively, providing a platform for individuals to share their thoughts on the matter through the website regulations.gov.
