ACA’s religious exemptions still being worked out

As it stand now, The Affordable Care Act contains certain provisions, such as administering benefits to same-sex partners and mandating that companies offer contraception options for female employees, that have been challenged by opponents in court. Businesses submitting claims before state and federal court systems could have a real life impact on many employers utilizing the full implementation of the ACA as it comes into effect for its employee coverage plan. 

Many of these companies claim they deserve a religious exemption and the ACA’s policies conflict with their corporate beliefs. The companies continue to say they should be dismissed from their compliance, according to Employee Benefit News. In response, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a number of arguments from ACA opponents, particularly on the issue of providing contraception, on grounds that their First Amendment freedom of religious expression rights have been infringed upon. 

Notre Dame University and Hobby Lobby are two among 86 companies that have filed suits against the federal government’s healthcare plan, according to Insurance Journal. 

However, Timothy Jost, a consumer representative of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and a professor of law at Washington and Lee University, said he believes the challenges don’t pose a threat to the overall infrastructure to the ACA.

“They’re challenges to one particular part of one particular regulation,” Jost said. “They’re very important cases, but I don’t think they mean much for the Affordable Care Act.”