NHeLP Urged the High Court to Uphold ACA’s Contraceptive Coverage Requirement
WASHINGTON – The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s per curiam opinion in Zubik v. Burwell, a challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s provision on contraception coverage.
NHeLP is dismayed that the Supreme Court failed to decide that a woman’s ability to access comprehensive reproductive health care cannot be disregarded simply based on her employer’s religious beliefs. Women, regardless of where they live and where they work, are entitled to all the benefits of the ACA. The majority of appellate courts have upheld the contraceptive coverage requirement, and NHeLP along with many other national organizations, urged the high court to do the same. Today’s action, however, will prolong the legal battle over a significant provision of the ACA and leave far too many women in limbo. The Court today recognized that any resolution over challenges to contraceptive coverage must ensure that women receive “full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage.” We are hopeful that the courts of appeals will quickly affirm the ACA’s promise of “seamless preventive-care coverage.” NHeLP will continue to argue for broad and robust protections for quality health care for women.
See NHeLP’s amicus brief in Zubik in favor of the ACA’s coverage of contraceptives.
NHeLP, founded in 1969, advocates for the rights of low-income and underserved people to access quality health care.
