Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Taking Away Access to Birth Control
For Immediate Release: July 8, 2020
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Trump Rules That Allow Employers To Deny Insurance Coverage for Birth Control
St. Paul, MN — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 majority to uphold Trump Administration rules that allow employers and universities to deny workers and students access to birth control. Under the ruling, if employers object to birth control, they can carve out birth control coverage in employee health insurance plans, effectively eliminating access to affordable care for tens of thousands of Americans.
Below is a statement on the ruling from Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States:
“It is unbelievable that in 2020, we are still fighting for access to birth control, a critical, time-sensitive medication. The Affordable Care Act made great strides by providing birth control at no cost to individuals but today, the United States Supreme Court sent us back in time by allowing employers and universities to opt out of covering this crucial benefit.
This decision puts employers’ beliefs before employees’ health and it is just wrong. To be clear, this is not about religious freedom, it is another attack from the Trump-Pence administration on our fundamental right to control our own bodies and our lives. And this is yet another example of why we need leadership change in this country.”
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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high-quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 29 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 99,000 people in our region.