Missouri lawmaker, wife, ask court for contraception insurance exclusion

[Sherman A1]

ST. LOUIS • A family should have the same right as a small business to opt out of birth control coverage in its health care plan, the lawyer for a Missouri legislator argued Monday before a federal appeals court.

Rep. Paul Wieland, R-Imperial, and his wife, Teresa, say the contraceptive benefit required by the Affordable Care Act violates their religious beliefs as Catholics and parents of three daughters.

In what may be the first court challenge of its type, they want to opt out of that coverage without giving up their state health insurance altogether and incurring a penalty under the federal law, commonly called Obamacare.

Their attorney, from the Thomas More Society, a public interest law firm based in Chicago, insisted to the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals that a family is no different from a small business whose owners have religious objections to subsidizing contraception for employees.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/missouri-lawmaker-wife-ask-court-for-contraception-insurance-exclusion/article_9be010f0-bc90-5eec-8614-9b00cef56dd0.html

[liberal N proud]

1. Is there something in the ACA that I missed forcing women to take birth control?

If you don't want the pill, don't take the pill.



I guess you can't fix stupid!

[Kalidurga]

2. I think it's the paying into the pool and helping to cut the cost to other people

I don't agree with them. But, they do have a point. Individuals have a lot more of a right to their religious beliefs than a corporation.

[djean111]

6. Bearing in mind that private insurance is strangling the US, IMO, insurance is shared risk.

Once we start saying oh, I don't want to pay for this or that, the insurance becomes even more expensive and unaffordable.

[Kalidurga]

12. I know and I don't think they are being logical at all

I just think that is where they are coming from and it's exactly the kind of thing I expected with the Hobby Lobby ruling.

[mercuryblues]

3. A better

headline would be republican Missouri lawmaker admits they have ACA coverage.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. This times ten million!

[tridim]

8. Yep, I think that's a first.

"It covers too much!!!1 Waahhhh!!!11"

[djean111]

4. Yes, just don't use birth control.

Sounds more like controlling their own daughters, to me.

[handmade34]

7. most of the comments are spot on...

*Pathetic.

*How embarrassing for the daughters.

*Everyone who thinks Missouri has the dumbest politicians, raise their hands.


*Well, then, since we're in the silly season, how 'bout this as a compromise: the insurance company lets him off the hook for contraception in exchange for tripling his deductible on any coverage for pregnancy, labor or childbirth.

Deal?



*So opt out of the insurance, then. Simple. Good grief, man.
Totally agree

*This idiot couldn't care less about his insurance. He's just trying to get his 15 minutes of fame!


*Bingo

*Insureds do not pay extra to buy the contraceptive coverage. It will actually cost more to eliminate it. That is: How many pills equal the cost of one birth for the insurance company.
Also, the biggest preventative to abortion is the pill. Which is more immoral

*You're not required to use a covered item/service just because it's part of your plan. Maybe I'm not understanding their claim. What if your daughter suffers from painful menstrual cycles or extreme bleeding causing anemia or other health problems? I guess you wouldn't let her physician prescribe hormone therapy because it could also be used as birth control, you'd just let her suffer. if you're not having sex, birth control pills don't prevent pregnancy, they're just hormone therapy. There are a lot of things my insurance covers that I wouldn't use or don't agree with, but I don't cancel my insurance, I just don't use those features.

*Conservatives are obsessed with sex They want to control the lives of others.

[Deadbeat Republicans]

9. Hobby lobby's parking lot is lot thinner in my neighborhood.

I hope it's a reflection on November's election.

[Sherman A1]

10. I hope it is a reflection on November

as You suggest, could just be folks are out of cash, but that too would be a good reason to get out to vote.

[Deadbeat Republicans]

11. I completely agree, it's a win-win situation.