Employers whose religious beliefs are the basis of them not offering contraception to employees as a part of their insurance plan may find themselves required to do otherwise by the federal government after August 2013, according to a new rule.
In its final rule on preventive health services care, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has decided to give nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, an extra year to comply with a new rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover contraceptive services as part of preventive care for women, without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible.
But they must comply after that, which is likely to cause a firestorm of protest among some groups, given how controversial this debate has been. Some religious beliefs hold that medical or other contraception is a violation of religious tenets.
The Catholic bishops of the United States have already called the decision "literally unconscionable," and said that now sterilization, abortifacients and contraception are to be included in virtually all health plans.
"In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences," said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The final rule will have no impact, however, on the protections that existing conscience laws and regulations give to health care providers themselves.
HHS acted after evaluating comments, but did not let the religious nonprofits off the hook. Nonprofits have until Aug. 1, 2013, to comply with the new law.
Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation. In the former interim rule, non-profit religious employers that offered insurance to their employees were given the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services.
