Feds urged to repeal insurance mandate

COLUMBUS — State Representative Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) today applauded the Ohio House’s passage of a resolution urging the federal government to protect the rights of religiously affiliated organizations by supporting the repeal of a federal mandate that all health insurance plans must cover contraceptive services.

“This mandate is a direct assault on the liberties of religious-based organizations and institutions to offer health coverage consistent with their religious beliefs,” Rep. Wachtmann said. “This resolution shows the federal government that Ohio will not stand for this gross infringement upon our religious freedom.”

House Concurrent Resolution 35 specifically urges President Barack Obama, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and the United States Congress to rescind a rule promulgated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires all health insurance plans to cover contraceptive and preventive services. According to this mandate, health insurance plans offered by religiously affiliated hospitals, colleges and other non-profits must offer coverage for these services, regardless of whether they have a faith-based opposition to them.

President Obama recently proposed a slight modification to this proposal, but although the newest proposal would not force religiously affiliated organizations to directly pay for their employees’ contraception, it would instead require relevant insurance companies to do so. This means that religiously affiliated organizations will still be indirectly paying for such services.

HCR 35 passed the Ohio House by a vote of 54-38.