WASHINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in its effort to allow more employers to refuse to provide free birth control on moral or religious grounds.
In the court’s 7-2 ruling Wednesday, the justices said the Trump administration acted properly in the legal process against the requirement.
Under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, most employers were required to have their insurance coverage for employees offer birth control as a preventive service at no charge to women.
The government had estimated that the Trump administration rule changes impacts around 70,000 to 126,000 women, who could lose contraception coverage in one year, according to the Associated Press.
Reaction from elected officials and advocates against the ruling was swift.
A shameful decision by the Supreme Court that will deny up to 126,000 employees birth control coverage. https://t.co/q3Hcarm8UQ
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 8, 2020
The fact that the Court allowed this attack birth control coverage under the ACA in 2020 — and which has benefitted over 62 million people — shows the war on our reproductive health care isn’t just about access to abortion. It’s everything. pic.twitter.com/yGHhBFTZfE
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) July 8, 2020
Copyright 2020. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed.