Question: How do corporations with religious objections to contraceptive coverage in employee healthcare plans reconcile with the ACA’s requirement that women be given coverage for contraceptive care?
Corporations with religious objections to contraceptive coverage outlined in the Obama Care can opt out of providing the coverage if they can certify and prove that they are not-for-profit religious organization (Kenny & Pear). This is because the Obama administration provided for women working for not-for-profit religious organizations that are against the use of contraceptives can receive coverage that covers contraceptives, which is separate from the one their employers are offering and paying for. This, however, does not apply for owners of secular business who have personal religious objections to the use of contraceptives.
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Therefore, for women working for employers who are opposed the provision of contraceptives in coverage because of their religious beliefs and do not fit the exemption requirements as referenced in Internal Revenue Code, Sections 6033(a)(3)(A)(iii) or (iii) can come together and take a group health plan that is sponsored by those organizations that are eligible (Gordon, Hance, & Nash). These are organizations that opposed to offering the contraceptive coverage either for all or some of the contraceptive services that are covered under the religious objections, are organized as non-profit organizations, considers itself a religious organization, ad has self-certified itself as meeting the said criteria. These women participating in these health plans will thus be able to access contraceptives on a no-cost basis, despite the fact that they will be working for exempt employers. This is because, health insurers will be able to issue fully-insured coverage to these group health plans that eligible organizations will sponsor so as to enrol participants into individual spate health insurance policies, which will offer coverage for contraception without additional premiums or cost-sharing (Gordon, Hance, & Nash).
Thus, corporations with religious objections to contraceptive coverage in employee healthcare plans can opt to certify themselves as exempt employers –non-profit religious organizations, or opt for the groups’ health plans as a way of reconciling with the ACA’s requirement that coverage for contraceptive care must be given to women.
- Gordon, Amy M., Anne W. Hance, and Susan M. Nash. “New Developments Regarding ACA Contraception Coverage Requirements.” Healthcare Law Reform 2013. 12 Feb. 2014.
- Kenny, Steve, and Robert Pear. “Justice Blocks Contraception Mandate on Insurance in Suit by Nuns.” The New York Times 31 Dec. 2013. .
