11.   The solution, the bishops assert, is to exclude abortion from any standard benefits package and allow individuals who desire abortion coverage to buy supplemental policies.

12.   They may also have to pay hundreds of dollars more in premiums for a supplemental policy to replace the generous benefits Health Net had offered.

13.   Supporters say the supplemental policies would help residents pay bills that may not otherwise be covered.

14.   Supplemental Medicare policies, so-called Medigaps, either do not cover prescriptions or charge high premiums for coverage.

15.   The coverage would work much like drug benefits under private supplemental policies such as Medigap, which charge high premiums that increase as policy holders age, he said.