Insurance refused to pay for a Wisconsin woman's abortion, even when her life was at risk

A Wisconsin woman miscarried a pregnancy right when an 1849 law outlawing abortion in the state sprung back into effect. Since her life was not at risk, her doctors couldn’t do anything until the fetus died and her pregnancy ended. Her insurance paid for her care.

But when she miscarried again months later and her life was determined to be at risk, her insurance refused to pay for the abortion procedure needed to save her life. She’s a federal employee, and it turns out the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from covering abortion services, was being misapplied.

KFF Health News’ Sarah Varney reports.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.