Anyway, I recently sent an email to our Senator, Sherrod Brown, regarding the mandate imposed on religious employers through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding health insurance. What follows is his form letter email response and the questions I sent to him in reply in red.
Dear Mr. Gissel:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me regarding health insurance and contraception coverage. Like most Ohioans, I believe we must respect both religious institutions and the interests of women in receiving affordable health care.
Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), young adults under 26 can remain on their parents’ insurance plan while in college or looking for their first job. Seniors who reach the Medicare “donut hole” receive discounts on their prescription medication and have improved access to preventive care screenings. In Ohio, that meant that 185,000 seniors saved $95 million in prescription drug costs last year. And in 2014, small businesses and individuals will be able to purchase affordable insurance on the new health insurance exchanges.
Another goal of the act was to eliminate insurance coverage discrimination against women. Prior to the passage of the ACA, it was legal in nine states for insurance companies to deny coverage to women who were victims of domestic violence because it was considered a pre-existing condition. For the 14 million women who purchased health insurance in the individual market, pregnancy could have been considered a pre-existing condition, thus excluding maternity coverage. And in most states, women were charged higher premiums — sometimes 150 percent more than men — especially during their reproductive years.
In keeping with the IOM’s recommendations, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a regulation requiring most employers to provide these services in their health insurance plans. Under the department’s initial criteria, a church or other house of worship that is opposed to contraception on religious grounds would not have been required to provide contraception coverage under its insurance policy. Because they educate students, treat patients, and hire individuals regardless of their religious beliefs, universities and hospitals affiliated with a religious order would need to provide this coverage.
However, after hearing from interested stakeholders, President Obama announced an expansion of the religious exemption. Under the new rule, religiously affiliated institutions — such as universities, charities, and hospitals — will not be required to cover contraception services in their health plans. [Did the law actually change? If so how? Secondly, what about businesses that are not religious, but who are morally against providing such coverage? What about employees of non-religious companies being forced to pay for a coverage to which they are morally opposed?] Instead, women working for these institutions will be able to access contraception coverage directly from their insurance companies. The insurance company, not the employer or employee, will be responsible for the costs associated with this coverage. Insurance companies should not need to raise premiums due to this new rule. For example, insurance premiums did not increase after contraception was added to the Federal Employees Health Benefit system.
[Were any insurance companies contacted for input on this? How do they feel about providing coverage for free? If the cost of providing contraception coverage is that minimal, why not have the manufacturers of contraception provide this for free?
Secondly, insurance is regulated by the states. Is the Federal Government going to step into the regulatory process and insist that the State Departments of Insurance allow companies to provide a coverage for free?]
The Catholic Health Association supports the revised policy [Are you aware that the Catholic Health Association does not speak for the Catholic Church? The bishops of the Catholic Church speak for the Catholic Church and every one of the bishops of the United States has spoken out against the mandate from the HHS and the so-called compromise. Why have they been excluded from conversations?] — stating that a “resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of Catholic institutions.” By requiring insurance companies, rather than religiously affiliated employers, to provide contraception coverage, the exemption protects both the interests of religiously affiliated employers and the right to access to health care of employees. More than half of women between ages 18-34 struggle to afford contraception, which they often need for medical purposes not related to contraception. As such, all women — regardless of their place of employment — should enjoy full access to preventive health care.
Some Ohioans have told me that the IOM’s recommendations require that abortion services must be included in insurance policies and that Catholic hospitals must perform abortions. This is incorrect. The IOM recommendations do not require any health insurance plan to cover abortion services. Additionally, the IOM recommendations regarding contraception coverage only apply to insurance plans; they do not require hospitals or health care professionals to provide such services.
I appreciate your taking the time to voice your thoughts on this important matter. Thank you again for getting in touch with me.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
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