Supreme Court Rules on ACA Contraceptive Mandate

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2014 that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that employer-provided health plans include certain contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The ruling applies only to “closely held corporations” that object to the mandate based on religious beliefs.  It does not apply to publicly traded corporations or to any other insurance coverage mandates.   Such corporations cannot be required to provide contraceptive services that are contrary to their religious beliefs. (Religious non-profit organizations are already exempt from providing contraceptive services that violate their religious beliefs, and their employees still have access to the same contraceptive services and coverage as those of non-objecting employers.)

For more information, you read the text of the ruling on www.supremecourt.gov under Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.