The fast moving Texas Senate has approved the abortion restriction on the agenda in the Special Session, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The measure will prohibit 'elective abortions' from being covered by standard health insurance policies sold on the private market, made available through workplace benefit plans, or sold on the Obamacare marketplace.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-The Woodlands) who is the prime sponsor of the bill, says 'medically necessary' abortions would still be covered.
"A medical emergency is what a physician determines to be the fact pattern at hand, then base plan coverage would help that individual," Creighton said, pointing out that abortions due to fetal issues or to protect the life and health of the mother would still be covered.
But if a woman expects to have an 'elective abortion,' he said she will have to buy a separate insurance policy, at a premium capped at $12 a month, if she wants to have it covered.
Creighton says since the way insurance works is that one person's premiums are used to pay for other people's medical bills, it is unfair to demand that people pay premiums which will go for elective abortions.
"All this is saying is that a separate risk pool will be through a supplemental plan will be required for an elective abortion."
The measure, like many of the other social conservative priorities which have been passed in the State Senate during the Special Session face an uncertain future in the House.
The average cost of a first trimester abortion in Texas, according to Planned Parenthood, is about $500.