We are appalled at the Court’s ruling undermining the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) birth control benefit. The decision destroys the crucial principle of personal autonomy. No employer should be able to dictate workers’ family planning choices.
The Court’s decision will endanger ACA’s birth control benefit for more than 62 million women, including 17 million Latinas and 15 million Black women who were able to obtain contraceptive coverage with no out-of-pocket costs. During the COVID-19 crisis, when many workers are facing severe economic hardships, loss of coverage could be catastrophic. At the National Partnership, we work every day to ensure that women receive the health care they need throughout their life span. Birth control is an essential part of that care — nearly nine in 10 women will use birth control in their lifetimes.
Access to birth control is central to women’s economic security. We know that fully one-third of the wage gains women have made since the 1960s can be attributed to contraceptive access. While we are deeply disappointed by the Court’s decision, this fight is not yet over, and we are ready to take up the gauntlet.
