COLLEGE PARK, Maryland — On October 6th, the Trump administration announced its decision to roll back a federal rule, established under the Affordable Care Act, that required most employers to provide employees with birth control coverage without a co-pay. The ruling took effect immediately.
Under this new rule, any business, university or organization can choose not to cover birth control. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Treasury and Labor will give employers the opportunity to deny contraception coverage under certain religious and moral objections.
The Trump administration initially defended its ruling by claiming it restores religious freedom by giving employers an option of whether or not to cover contraception under health plans for their employees. According to the ruling, the administration also backed its decision by stating that contraception could “affect risky sexual behavior in a negative way.”
The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the rule will affect approximately 200 employers who have religious objections or previously have filed lawsuits.
The department has also estimated that the decision will impact approximately 120,000 women.
Since the announcement, social media users have taken to Twitter and Facebook to voice their opinions using the hashtag #HandsoffmyBC.
Many users were strongly against the new ruling.
It’s simple: When women have access to birth control, their careers flourish. https://t.co/QfsOFqBQo9 #HandsOffMyBC pic.twitter.com/ImmrE6jjfU
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) October 17, 2017
just a friendly reminder that birth control is used for so much more than contraception!!! #HandsOffMyBC
— victoria (@pepeoroni) October 18, 2017
This. #HandsOffMyBC pic.twitter.com/17vmWI9Ypg
— Brittany Caplin (@brittany_caplin) October 8, 2017
If you don’t understand all the different reasons why a women could use BC you don’t need to be making ANY DECISIONS #handsoffmyBC
— Oh Aubaby (@no_coincidence_) October 8, 2017
While others supported the administration’s decision.
Trump isnt banning birth control..he’s saying companies have the right not to pay for it if they don’t agree with it…rights of both matter
— Scott Porter (@goinscotty2) October 7, 2017
Okay, Senator, why should an employer be FORCED to pay for birth control?
— Trump is the MAN! (@dancirnford) October 12, 2017
Not limiting access, just who pays for said access. When I was a young woman I paid for my own BC. Women now can do the same. Simple.
— Donna Delia (@DeliaDonna) October 14, 2017
Birth control and abortion are not “ women’s health”. Those are women’s choices, and those of us who don’t believe in them shouldn’t have to pay for them.
— bruce wexler (@brucewexler) October 14, 2017
Earlier this month, people joined the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, and 29 other organizations to rally against the new ruling outside the White House.
Since early October announcement, Democrats in both the House and Senate introduced the “Protect Access to Birth Control Act” on Thursday that will attempt to reverse the new mandate.
State attorneys general in Washington, Massachusetts, California, and Pennsylvania also plan to file lawsuits against the new mandate, along with the ACLU, National Women’s Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.