Planned Parenthood’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision Rolling Back the ACA Birth Control Mandate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Jodi Hicks, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision today in Trump v. Pennsylvania upholding the Trump Administration’s regulation that employers can deny birth control coverage because of moral or religious exemptions:

“Today’s decision is a harrowing one. As we grapple with two pandemics—COVID-19 and that of systemic racism and violence—today’s Supreme Court decision only pushes affordable birth control coverage more out of reach for millions of people in a time when they need more care, not less.

“While California law requires employers to cover access to no-copay birth control, this doesn’t extend to everyone. Under today’s ruling, 5.5 million people under employer self-insured plans could potentially be at risk of losing birth control coverage if their employer chooses to deny coverage for ‘religious or moral reasons.’

“Basic health care like birth control shouldn’t depend on who your boss is or which school you attend. Your race and income shouldn’t be barriers to getting basic health care.

 

“So know this: this fight is not over. We will do all we can to ensure those who need birth control and other sexual and reproductive health care can access it. And we will not stop until that is a reality for everyone, no matter who you work for, where you go to school, how much money you make, or the color of your skin. You have the right to make your own decisions about your body, your health care, and your future, and we will never back down from this fight.” 

NOTE: Phone and Zoom interviews available.

 

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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of sexual and reproductive health care and sex education.