Step 1: Grab an umbrella and a piece of paper. Write #CoverAllHerHealth at the top.
Step 2: Tell us why employers should provide birth control coverage for ALL women.
Step 3: Send us your photos! Tweet us! Facebook us!
The Hobby Lobby Case: Why It’s Important, And Why You Should Be As Mad As A Hippo With A Hernia
When the Affordable Care Act was first passed, it required all employers and educational institutions to provide contraceptive coverage. This was seen as a big victory for women.
The only exceptions to this rule were churches and houses of religious worship. Traditionally, the Catholic Church has been opposed to contraception, despite the fact that 98% of sexually active Catholic women use birth control, according to the Guttmacher Institute. But more on this later.
However, thanks to political uproar in February 2012, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Obama administration revised the mandate to say that all religious institutions, not just church organizations, could be exempt from providing birth control coverage. However, this does not extend to nonprofit corporations controlled by religious institutions – like hospitals.
Then, in 2014, the Supreme Court heard a case called Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. Sylvia Burwell is the current United States Secretary for Health and Human Services.
And for those of you not familiar with Hobby Lobby, it’s an arts and crafts store chain with locations across the United States and over 21,000 employees. Just to stress this point, they sell arts and crafts, people.
However, it’s a “closely held” corporation, or a company which has a limited amount of shareholders. Founder David Green and his Evangelical family own the corporation and have strong religious beliefs, which include not providing contraception to their employees.
Upset about the Affordable Care Act, they filed a complaint and argued that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, their religious rights were being burdened.
And guess what? The Supreme Court AGREED.
So basically, “closely held” corporations don’t have to provide women with birth control.
Which means “religious rights of people” also now means “religious rights of corporations.” Because corporations are the same as people. Right…?
Post by: Aditi
OTC BC Sounds Great, right?
Many GOP Candidates have changed their tune this election season; they’ve started advocating for over-the-counter birth control.
This sounds awesome, right?
As NPR reported in Changing Tack, GOP Candidates Support Over the Counter Birth Control this plan allows candidates to support access to birth control while avoiding the topic of companies who don’t want to cover it, like Hobby Lobby and other closely held or religious organizations.
What they don’t want you to know is how much it will cost if birth control is no longer covered by insurance. Providing OTC birth control options can definitely increase access, but by no means will it increase affordability!
Cover All Her Health 