05.31.2017 / Press Release

New Trump Health Care Rule Would Expand Businesses’ Ability to Take Private Decisions away From Millions of Women and Families

Washington, D.C. – Millions of women and their families could lose access to birth control if a leaked draft rule proposed by the Trump administration were to be finalized. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) currently requires nearly all insurance plans to cover birth control with no cost-sharing. Houses of worship are exempt from the mandate. Exceptions also already exist for “closely held” corporations and non-profits that have religious objections. The leaked Trump administration proposal would significantly expand these exceptions to allow non-profits, universities and any company, including large publicly traded companies, to exempt themselves from the mandate with no mechanism for their employees to be guaranteed access to no-cost birth control.

Following is the statement of Frederick Isasi, executive director of Families USA, on the impact this rule could have on America’s women and their families:

“This is another example of the targeted attack the Trump administration has waged on the health care of America’s women and their families. This rule would give businesses the power to deny coverage for the most private of decisions – family planning – with little evidence to support their claim of a religious exception.

“If this rule were finalized, the Trump administration would create a dangerous precedent that employers can claim objections to coverage of required health care services they disagree with.

“First, President Trump supports repeal legislation that erodes guaranteed coverage for required health care services, like maternity care, and now he may finalize a regulation that allows businesses to interfere with women and families’ most personal decisions. Women and their families deserve better.”