How Michigan’s new law limiting abortion coverage came to pass

Michigan residents can no longer buy individual private health insurance plans that cover abortion, even for pregnancies stemming from rape or incest.

A new law went into effect Thursday barring private insurance companies from covering abortion services unless the customer purchases an add-on policy when they set up their insurance. The add-on, which is called a rider, will not be offered by any of the state's insurance companies selling coverage in the private marketplace. 

Seven companies are making abortion coverage available, but only as part of their employer-based plans. 

Michigan is now the ninth state to bar private health insurance policies from covering abortions, and it did so through an unconventional lawmaking process allowed by the state constitution.