On July 8, 2020, the Supreme Court upheld the expanded exemptions related to contraceptive coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health plans are required to provide coverage for “additional preventive care and screenings” without passing along any cost to the insured. This includes birth control and contraceptives.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) previously allowed certain exemptions under the Obama administration for religious institutions and non-profits. Under the current administration, the eligibility for the exemption has greatly expanded to include private employers who have a moral or religious objection.
What does this mean exactly? If an employer has a strong religious or moral objection to the use of birth control and contraceptives, they may now opt out of providing the ACA’s mandated contraceptive coverage.
