Will Oklahoma end discrimination against domestic violence victims?

A recent press release from the Oklahoma House of Representatives reports:

Oklahoma is one of only eight states that allow health insurance companies to classify domestic violence as a “pre-existing condition.”

Democratic state Rep. Eric Proctor and Republican state Sen. Randy Brogdon are calling for an end to the immoral practice of classifying domestic violence as a pre-existing condition. In Oklahoma, currently there is no law protecting survivors of domestic violence from being denied insurance coverage, as a result of domestic abuse.

“Banning insurers from using domestic violence as a pre-existing condition is a common sense solution,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso. “We must work together to help folks, not make their lives more difficult.”

The bipartisan effort will stop the practice of denying health insurance to battered women, because of domestic violence.

“Regardless of party, everyone can agree that this is the right thing to do. Our moral obligation to protect life demands action,” said Proctor, D-Tulsa. “Our mothers, sisters, and daughters depend on us to do the right thing. They need not worry about being denied insurance coverage, when they are trying to rebuild their lives.”

Proctor added, “When this bill becomes law, survivors of domestic violence will no longer fear being denied care.”