When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was responsible for determining which kinds of preventive care for women would be covered by employer-based health plans. Certain organizations were exempt from having to provide these services, including religious and non-profit organizations; for-profit corporations were not considered exempt at the time. In 2012, Hobby Lobby, a for-profit company with conservative Christian owners opposing contraception as immoral, stopped covering contraceptives, and filed a lawsuit.

In an all male majority decision, with three female judges and one male judge dissenting, the Supreme Court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows for-profit privately held companies to deny contraception coverage to employees as part of their healthcare plans. According to Planned Parenthood this ruling impacts over 50% of US workers.

it is startling that

the Court

can pretend that

a for-profit corporation's religious beliefs matter

and the

ability of women to

control their reproductive lives

is

not

important

“In a decision of startling breadth, the Court holds that commercial enterprises, including corporations, along with partnerships and sole proprietorships, can opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held...”