Notre Dame Reverses Birth Control Coverage Decision

[DonViejo]

Source: U.S. News & World Report



Employees of the Catholic University will not lose contraceptive coverage at the end of the calendar year, the school announced Tuesday.

By Claire Hansen, Contributor |Nov. 7, 2017, at 11:10 a.m.

Notre Dame faculty and staff will not lose birth control coverage at the end of the calendar year, the university announced in an email Tuesday morning, reversing its late-October decision to eliminate contraceptive coverage from employee health plans.

The insurance company through which Notre Dame employees are insured, Meritain Health/OptumRx, now says they will continue to offer a separate insurance plan with contraceptive coverage with no copay. Notre Dame -- a prominent, Catholic university in South Bend, Indiana -- said in the email it recognizes employees have diverse beliefs and will not interfere with the coverage, though the coverage will not be paid for by the university.

The announcement is an about-face for the university, which made national headlines as the first employer to drop contraceptive coverage following the Trump administration's rule making it easier for employers to obtain an exemption from the Affordable Care Act's mandate requiring them to provide birth control with no copay.

The university has opposed the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate on the grounds of religious freedom and sued the Obama administration for the right to not offer coverage. The university started providing no-cost contraceptive coverage in 2013 under a compromise with the federal government that allowed religious objectors to opt-out of paying for the coverage. The cost was shouldered by insurance companies and the federal government.




Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-11-07/notre-dame-reverses-birth-control-coverage-decision

[groundloop]

1. That's good. HOWEVER.....

How is it that 45* can simply make a 'rule' that overrides parts of the Affordable Care Act? Seriously, I'm very curious about this... if someone has the answer please explain.

[zipplewrath]

5. It's how congress works these days

When they pass this kind of legislation, they frequently empower some federal agency to write much of the rules. As such, it empowers the administration to both write AND CHANGE the rules based upon the political winds of the day. In some cases, periods of public comment might be required. But you will note that the Obama administration wrote, and changed, and waived, and otherwise managed the plan into existence, and tried to modify it on the fly as short comings were exposed. Much of what "had to be covered" was written by the administration, after ACA was passed.

It's why you're not suppose to elect an orange moron to that office.

[groundloop]

6. "It's why you're not suppose to elect an orange moron"

[Gothmog]

2. This is great news

[procon]

3. All that screeching about "religious freedom" seems to wither away when the

faithful come face to face with reality. Their employees wanted contraceptive coverage, so belatedly the university had the acknowledge that people "have diverse beliefs", and repeal their arbitrary ban. Maybe it all boils down to money and the pious university managers wanted to pocket the cost savings by cheating their employees out of an important health benefit.

The thing is, those employees are there to work, not attend religious services or subscribe to the specific religious taboos as their employer. So, it looks like Notre Dame, despite all their very loud and public proselytising and the claims of being persecuted, was just putting on an act.

[FakeNoose]

12. I'm Catholic and I went to Notre Dame

I don't speak for all Catholics (obviously) but many of us feel that it's a moral gray area, not etched in stone or in the Bible.

I've used birth control and as a woman and mother I'm personally opposed to abortion. However I believe that every woman needs the freedom of choice and should have the right to make that choice for herself. No government official or religious authority should make that decision for me, and no law should be passed to deny me the right to an abortion if I choose it.

Many if not most Catholic women feel the same way and have begun to speak up to preserve their reproductive freedom. Most Catholics do practice birth control at least sometime in their lives, inside and outside of marriage. Notre Dame University has enrolled many female students, and employs female teachers and office workers so the school is finally hearing the "other side" of the coin, as I've stated above. Then too there are like-minded parents of students as well as young students themselves (single and married) who I'm sure have been vocal about their needs for birth control choices.

This was only a matter of time, I felt that ruling would never stand when people feel strongly enough to speak up and let them know.

[GeorgeGist]

4. also ...

Meritain Health/OptumRx informed ND that premiums would increase w/out contraceptive coverage.

[blaze]

7. Ah. Wondered why the about face.

Of course it comes down to $$$$.

[Ligyron]

8. A pill has got to be cheaper than pregnancy and well baby care.

Nevermind if the birth or the baby produced run into any problems. Pills are way cheaper.

[Freethinker65]

10. Worship of the almighty dollar? Hahahahahaha

[LisaM]

9. Good, because this was really making me angry.

I was on the verge of writing them and asking if they wanted to go back to the 1970s when women students weren't even admitted!

[mpcamb]

11. Good outcome. Suspect they got an earful from alums.

[maxrandb]

13. Headline Should Be; "ND Realized How Much Insurance Premiums Would Rise Under Contraception Ban"

decided God wouldn't mind a little birth control afterall