Congresswoman Lois Frankel released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced it would hear two cases – Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius and Congestoga Wood Specialities v. Sebelius – related to the Affordable Care Act benefit that requires most employers to include contraception coverage in their health care plans.

“Decisions about contraception belong to a woman with the advice of her doctor, not her employer,” Frankel said. “There is nothing more essential to a woman’s health than to be in charge of her own body and be in control of her most important life-changing decisions.”  

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to provide preventative care, including contraception, with no out-of-pocket costs to individuals. Churches and religious schools are exempt from providing contraception coverage to employees and there is also an accommodation for non-profit religious organizations.

The stakes in this case are clear – should for-profit corporations or a woman and her doctor determine her access to preventative care and contraception?

###