President Obama has announced changes to his controversial contraceptive policy. His new policy would make insurance companies in charge of providing free contraception and not companies. President Obama’s changes will accommodate the religious organizations that opposed his original proposal. Read more after the jump.
President Obama announced a plan Friday to accommodate religious organizations and others that are opposed to a new policy requiring contraceptive coverage for employees by making insurance companies the ones responsible for providing free contraception.
The change would make the insurance companies, and not religious employers, responsible. Women would still have access to birth control without co-pays — but religious schools and hospitals could refuse to cover it, passing the onus to the insurance companies.
The change was described by a senior adviser as an “accommodation” — but advisers said the announcement does not represent a “compromise.”
The move comes as several prominent Democratic lawmakers have urged the Obama administration to reconsider its position, which some consider an infringement of religious freedom. Vice President Biden said in an interview a day earlier that he was “determined” to work out the dispute.
Biden is among a string of Catholic administration officials who reportedly voiced concerns with the policy as it was being hashed out. Obama announced the rule in January, requiring organizations to provide birth control coverage without a co-pay for employees. The rule exempts churches and houses of worship but would apply to other religious organizations in 2013.
Catholic leaders have vigorously opposed the policy. In Congress, Republicans have threatened to overturn the rule if the administration does not change course. The issue has also taken center stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this week, and on the Republican presidential campaign trail.
Still, Obama has rallied Democratic allies to his side in defense of the policy and its intent to expand access for women to contraceptive services. Claims that the change does not mark a compromise may indicate an unwillingness by the administration to be seen as backpedaling on the issue.
