Anti-abortion prays during the legal arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court in Washington, in 2012.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review whether the contraceptive coverage requirement in the new federal health care law violates employers’ religious freedoms.
The disputed provision to the Affordable Care Act requires most companies to provide health insurance policies that include contraception services. There are exceptions for some employers, and the Obama Administration made concessions on the issue last year after coming under fire from religious groups. The high court will consider whether corporations should be treated the same as individuals in exercising First Amendment freedom of religion claims, Reuters reports.
“The Administration has already acted to ensure no church or similar religious institution will be forced to provide contraception coverage and has made a commonsense accommodation for non-profit religious organizations that object to contraception on religious grounds,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
Companies that decline to offer the benefits can be fined up to $1.3 million per day. Oral arguments are expected to take place in March with a ruling by the end of June.
[Reuters]