Planned Parenthood Disappointed in Supreme Court Ruling

SCHENECTADY, NY (06/30/2014)(readMedia)-- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that two for-profit corporations, Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods, could deny insurance coverage of birth control to their employees, based on the personal religious beliefs of the corporation's owners.

"Today, the Supreme Court ruled against women and families, giving bosses the right to discriminate against women and deny their employees access to birth control coverage," said Bowman Kim Atkins, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson.

"This is a troubling ruling that will prevent some women, especially those working hourly-wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet, from getting birth control."

This ruling does not strike down the Affordable Care Act's birth control benefit. Today, more than 30 million women are eligible for birth control with no co-pay thanks to this benefit, and the vast majority of them will not be affected by this ruling. But for those who are affected, this ruling will have real consequences.

"It's incredible that in 2014 we're still fighting over women's access to contraception," said Atkins. "Birth control is basic health care. We know firsthand that access to birth control is both a health care and economic concern for women."

At Planned Parenthood we work with patients to help make their healthcare as affordable as possible. We accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid. We also offer payment plans. No insurance? Women and men can now sign up for Medicaid and commercial insurance at some Planned Parenthood health centers. Visit us at www.plannedparenthood.org/ppmh for a list of health centers and services near you.

Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson operates 10 health centers in the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley. Centers are located in: Amsterdam, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Glens Falls, Johnstown, Oneida, Rome, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Utica.

Background

• Birth control is basic preventive health care for women - 99% of sexually active women have used birth control at some point in their lives, for a whole host of health care reasons.

• But birth control is expensive - a 2010 survey found that more than a third of women voters have struggled to afford prescription birth control at some point in their lives.

More information on today's ruling available at:

http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/newsroom/press-releases/planned-parenthood-action-fund-supreme-court-rules-against-american-women-and-families/