Washington Lawmakers Propose Tax on Insurers to Fund Abortion Services

The proposed legislation would require health carriers to pay a monthly assessment to support abortion access in the state.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Washington state legislature is considering a proposal that would impose a tax on health insurance carriers to fund abortion services in the state. The bill, Senate Bill 6182, would require insurers with plans offered on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to pay a monthly assessment of $0.82 per enrollee in the first year, dropping to $0.165 in subsequent years. The funds would go towards grants for organizations that provide abortion services, with at least 85% of the proceeds required to fund these grants. Insurers oppose the measure, arguing they cannot pass the costs onto consumers.

Why it matters

This proposal is part of a broader debate around funding for abortion services in Washington state. It comes after lawmakers cut $8.5 million in state funding for the Abortion Access Project last year, and as the federal government has threatened to restrict Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. The tax on insurers is seen as a way to ensure continued access to abortion services in the state.

The details

Senate Bill 6182 would require health insurance carriers with plans offered on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to pay a monthly assessment to fund abortion services. In the first year, the tax would be $0.82 per enrollee, dropping to $0.165 in subsequent years. The funds would go towards grants administered by the state Department of Health for organizations that provide abortion services, with at least 85% of the proceeds required to fund these grants. Insurers would be prohibited from passing the costs of the assessment onto consumers through premium hikes or other charges, though they could seek an exception if it would create a risk of insolvency or consumer harm.

  • The first payment of the assessment would be due in March 2027.
  • In the first year, the tax is expected to raise around $10 million, and around $2 million each year after that.

The players

Senate Bill 6182

The proposed legislation that would impose a tax on health insurance carriers in Washington to fund abortion services.

Washington Health Benefit Exchange

The state's online marketplace for health insurance plans, where many Washington residents purchase coverage.

Department of Health

The state agency that would administer the grants funded by the proposed insurance tax.

Eric Lundberg

Pastor of Living Word Lutheran Church in Graham, who opposes the proposal on moral grounds.

Courtney Normand

Washington director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, who supports the proposal as a way to ensure funding for abortion services.

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What they’re saying

“It's simply about where the funds go after they're collected. Are they going to go into whatever insurance companies feel like doing with them? Or are they going to go to caring for patients? That's literally the only two options here. So we feel really strongly that this is the right thing to do.”

— Courtney Normand, Washington director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates (dailyfly.com)

“We completely and morally disagree with procedures that we completely and morally disagree with.”

— Eric Lundberg, Pastor of Living Word Lutheran Church in Graham (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The measure is scheduled for a vote out of the Appropriations Committee on Monday, leaving just a few days for a vote from the full House before the legislative session ends on Thursday.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the ongoing debate around funding for abortion services in Washington state, as lawmakers seek to ensure access to these services in the face of federal and state-level threats to funding. The tax on insurers is seen as a way to provide a stable source of funding, but faces opposition from religious groups and insurers who argue they cannot pass the costs onto consumers.