When President George W. Bush announced his new policy promoting good health for children on Jan. 31, the inclusion of unborn children in the proposal raised concerns for some about the recognition of the fetus as a living being.

The plan, which was drafted by bipartisan leadership, would allow states to provide health care insurance coverage to pregnant women for their unborn children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

The plan would provide improved prenatal care by offering coverage for more low-income women, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the DHHS, the new regulation would clarify the definition of "child," and include coverage from conception to the age of 19.

"While Medicaid already provides prenatal care for many low-income women, there are still tens of thousands every year who are not eligible under current regulations until after the child is born," Tommy Thompson, DHHS secretary, said in the press release.

One reason for the new legislation was the removal of previous health care benefits for pregnant women, said Peggy Lorah, interim director of the Center for Women Students.

"If those in power had not gutted health care, there would be no need for the new legislation," she said.

According to the DHHS, there are an estimated 10.9 million women of childbearing age without health insurance.

The stated goal of the new legislation is to reduce that number, although the debate over the technicalities of the legislation will likely continue.

"Abortion advocates oppose this rule change soley on semantics," said Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

Abortion rights opponents argue otherwise.

"If unborn children were already covered, we would not have to do any of this," Lorah said.

Following the announcement, groups have spoken out both for and against the plan.

"I think Bush is recognizing reality," Geer said. "The intent of the change is to enable health care to be provided to unborn children. There is a life inside the womb."

While the plan is applauded by some for providing improved care for low-income women, opponents of the plan disagree with its agenda, which they perceive as being anti-choice.

"I think President Bush and Attorney General (John) Ashcroft have made no secret about their anti-choice beliefs," Lorah said. "By putting it back in, they are setting the stage for overturning Roe v. Wade."

The proposed legislation is to be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks.