Democrats sure are obsessed with free abortions.

Columbia used to cover them but recently changed their health plan. When the Columbia Democrats noticed the change, they demanded the plan be changed back.

Olga Khvan of USA Today College reports.

Controversy surrounding Columbia’s abortion coverage policy

A recent string of changes in Columbia University’s health policy regarding abortion coverage for students marks another development in the ongoing debate over women’s reproductive rights.

In previous years, the Ivy League institution covered abortions under the Columbia Health Program fee — a $900 fee required of all students, regardless of whether they were enrolled in a medical insurance plan administered by the university or a private company. This year, the required fee was reduced to $824, no longer covering four medical services, including abortion. These services instead became components of the university’s medical insurance plan, leaving students under private insurances — either their own or their parents’ — without guaranteed coverage for them.

Earlier this week, in response to students’ concerns over the policy change, the university created a confidential, discretionary fund to cover “special, time-sensitive healthcare needs,” including abortion.

Creation of the fund was entirely a result of student activism. The initial policy change was not highly publicized, but outlined on page 17 of the 101-page brochure for the university’s medical insurance plan. It was only brought to attention earlier this month, when a student, sophomore Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, stumbled upon it. With help from the Columbia University Democrats, of which she is a member, Ridolfi-Starr set out to create a petition to pressure the administration to provide abortion coverage.

“When faced with a difficult medical situation, we should be able to rely on our community here for support, like we once could,” the petition said. “Columbia, don’t politicize student health, and don’t make bureaucratic excuses: Provide financial protection and confidentiality for all students who seek medically necessary abortion. Cover us, Columbia!”