Supreme Court rules employers can refuse to pay for birth control over religious, moral concerns

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that employers can refuse to pay for birth control as part of health insurance plans if they have stated a religious or moral objection.

News 12 Staff

Jul 8, 2020, 7:20 PM

Updated 1,522 days ago

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The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that employers can refuse to pay for birth control as part of health insurance plans if they have stated a religious or moral objection.
But the ruling might not mean much in Connecticut since state law requires health insurance to cover birth control.
"I thought this was settled law," said Gov. Ned Lamont. "I thought the right to contraception, I thought the right to choose -- I'm old -- I thought this went back to when I was a kid."
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said he doesn't believe the ruling invalidates state law, but it may lead businesses to challenge that law.
In Congress, there is already talk of changing the language in the Affordable Care Act to specifically require contraception coverage. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also said he will work with colleagues to override the Trump administration's exemptions.
In the meantime, Connecticut's Planned Parenthood offers free contraception -- even by phone.
"It's a little bit like a FaceTime call," said Brittany Fonteno, of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. "You have your phone or your computer and you go someplace private in your house, and you see the same trusted providers that we have in our health centers."
Churches were already exempt from covering birth control, but Wednesday's ruling widens that out to any business with a moral objection.
News 12 reached out to the Connecticut Catholic Conference, which said, "For now, we will let the decision speak for itself."
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the ruling a "big win for religious freedom and freedom of conscience."