Proposed Senate bill would fix unfair practices
Current South Carolina law surrounding health coverage permits insurers to deny coverage to victims of domestic abuse and women who have undergone a cesarean section (based upon either condition).
It is imperative that current health coverage policies be expanded and further clarified to ultimately protect both victims of domestic violence and women who have undergone a cesarean section without either circumstance serving as a preexisting condition. A current bill in a Senate subcommittee (General Bill S 0178) proposes this, and the bill’s passing is essential.
In South Carolina, domestic violence is a significant yet relatively transparent phenomenon. In 2009, South Carolina ranked ninth of all 50 states for women who were killed by men. Yet, while 42 states have barred insurance companies from using domestic violence as grounds for denial, such discrimination continues to be reality in South Carolina.
Not only are the current policies that govern health coverage inherently inequitable, falsely warranted and highly ambiguous, they also contribute to the dangerous cycle of domestic abuse. The economic and emotional consequences of the current unjust practices are far too harmful to justify continuation.
To uphold ethical practice and improved health conditions overall, this specific amendment to current law must be deeply considered.