The Latest War On Abortion: "Rape Insurance Bills"

On Wednesday, pro-choice activism took another beating: Michigan has banned health insurance policies from covering abortion. Even in cases of rape and incest. A woman's life "has to be at risk" for her health insurance to cover termination of pregnancy. Women will have to pull out their wallets and pay for a health care rider, or pay the termination costs in full — because their policies just aren't having it.

So, in honor of how much we love this new bill, let's formally adopt the moniker new outlets have given it: the rape insurance bill.

The announcement Wednesday night didn't come unexpectedly. The legislation picked up steam in Michigan a few weeks ago — and, worse, a similar bill has passed in 23 other states that have slashed Obamacare's abortion coverage.

They are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Now, thanks to Michigan Right to Life's successful campaign to get 300,000 signatures on their petition, Michigan is now the 24th state to slash abortion coverage. Which is nearly half the United States, FYI.

But let's not forget Roe v. Wade, which ruled in 1973 that a woman's right to an abortion is a legal right. These policies make it financially difficult or impossible for most women who need abortions — who, by the way, are often poor — to have them. We can find ways to get around laws like Michigan's, but it doesn't ignore that the state is denying many women a right.

Some reactions to Michigan's new law...

But there is a silver lining when it comes to Obamacare: Sure, signing up for health insurance has cost people a lot of grief, but the ACA has fortunately tripled the number of women who get free contraception under their medical plans. That's 40 percent of American women, up from 15.