Checked Snopes already and found nothing.

[mac56]

Just overheard an angry conversation between two co-workers. The conversation can only be described as "more heat than light". They were both all bent out of shape because one had heard (on the radio, naturally) that the ACLU was trying to force the Catholic Church to offer birth control and abortion coverage in its employee health plan.

I decided to hold my tongue and stay the hell out. But has anyone heard anything about this? Is it really a controversy, or just more RW radio rabble rousing?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. just more RW radio rabble rousing

[htuttle]

2. Since there are no laws requiring employee health plans...

...then I can say with certainty that there are no laws requiring employee health plans to cover birth control and abortion. Ergo, the ACLU would not be fighting for it.

The ACLU doesn't fight for new laws -- they only fight for enforcement of existing laws in my experience (although I may have missed something somewhere along the way).

[mac56]

3. That's what I thought too.

Thanks for the confirmation.

[yellowdogintexas]

6. there may be some state mandates that require a medical plan

to cover oral contraceptives in the prescription drug benefit side of the plan. No plans cover any type of barrier devices, as far as I know;
and very few plans will cover Depo Provera unless it is for medical reasons, like severe monthly pain, heavy bleeding, and other medically based reasons.

So in theory, a state which has that mandate can require any plan issued in that state or covering a resident of that state to cover BC Pills or the patch.

Don't know of any states that mandate an insurance plan to cover abortions.

[lpbk2713]

4. Must be something the sheepies got from the latest Limbaugh pukefest.

Like they say -- Rush is Right.

I don't see how it's possible that an outside entity can dictate the terms of an employer/employee health plan.

You have my sympathies in view of the company you are compelled to mingle with.

[mcscajun]

5. Sounds like rabble-rousing based on a legit story...(Link)

http://www.aclu.org/ReproductiveRights/ReproductiveRights.cfm?ID=17059&c=30