The issue could be avoided, he argued, by providing that "those people who want to purchase abortion coverage can do so at their own expense."

The organization was involved in trying to keep abortion coverage out of health care reform legislation in 2009 and 2010.

But if they do, subscribers who get federal subsidies will have to make separate premium payments for the abortion coverage.

And states could prohibit abortion coverage by these plans.

Currently, employees have the option of enrolling in a plan with or without abortion coverage.

Forty thousand patients will be denied contraceptive services and abortion coverage.

States could exclude plans providing abortion coverage from their respective exchanges.

But they promised "vigorous opposition" to any health plan that includes a requirement of abortion coverage.

In the health proposals before Congress, public funds would subsidize the insurance of poor people, and thus abortion coverage for them.

And that fight is also plainly a prologue to a battle over including abortion coverage in the Clinton health plan.